UC-NRLF 


1814 


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REGULATIONS 


BECEIVED  AJ^B  OBSERVED 


DISCIPLINE  OF  INFANTRY, 


ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OtTICE, 

Washington  Cixr,  19tli  March,  1813. 

General  Orders. 

The  "  Hand  Book  for  Infantry,''^  compiled  and 
published  hy  William  Buane,  of  Philadelphia,  will  he 
received  and  observed  as  the  system  of  Infantry  Discipline 
for  the  Army  of  the  United  States. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

T.  H.  GUSHING,  Adjt.  Genl. 


A 

HAND  BOOK  FOR  INFANTRY: 


COKTAIKINO 


THE  FIRST  PRINCIPLES 

OF 

MILITARY  DISCIPLINE, 

FOUNDED  ON  RATIONAL  METHOD: 

INTENDED 

TO    EXPLAIN   IN  A   FAMIIIAR  AND   PRACTICAI.  MANNER, 

FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE  MILITARY  FORCE  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES, 

THE 

MODERN  IIVIPROVEMENTS 

IN  THE 

mSCIPLIJS^E  Ji^T)  MOVEMEXT  OF  ARMIES. 


THE    NINTH   EDITION. 


BY  WILLIAM  iDUANE, 

ADJUTANT  GENEBAL  IN  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  TTNITED  STATES. 


Cest  la  discipline  militaire  qui  fait  la  gtoire  du  soldat  et  la  force  des  armees, 
car  elle  ost  le  plus  grand  acte  de  son  devouement  et  le  gage  le  plus  assm-e 
de  la  victoire.  Carnot,  1811. 


PHI  LA  DELPHI  A  : 
FEINTED   FOE  THE   AUTHOR. 

181*, 


DISriilCT  OF  PEA^J^SYLV^J^IJ,  to  wit  : 

*♦*«*«*•«**  ^^  ^7  REMEMBERED,  that  on  the  20th  day  of  June,  in  the 
;  J    thirty-sixth  year  of  the   Independence   of  the   United  States  of 

;  L.  ,S.  5  America,  A.  D,  1812,  William  Duane  of  the  said  district,  hath  de- 
*  5    posited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims 

*»»»**«»»*»  j^g  author,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit :  "  A  Hand  Rook  for 
**  Infantry :  Containing  the  First  Principles  of  Military  Discipline,  Founded  on 
**  Ratioiuil  Method ;  intended  to  explain  in  a  familiar  and  practical  manner,  for 
*♦  the  use  of  the  Military  Force  of  the  United  States,  the  Modem  Improvements 
*<  in  the  Disciplitie  and  Movement  of  Armies  :  By  "William  Duaue.  C'cst  la 
*<  (Usciplinc  militairc  qui  fait  la  gloire  du  soldat  et  la  force  <les  armees,  car 
*♦  elle  est  le  plus  grand  acte  de  son  devouement  et  Ic  gnge  le  plus  assure  de  la 
««  victoire.     Car/io?.... 1 811. '"" 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  intituled  **  an  act 
for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books, 
to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned;" 
And  also  to  the  act,  entiled  "  an  act  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled  *  an  act  for 
the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  sccurmg  the  copies  of  msips,  chaits,  and  books, 
to  the  authors  Hnd  proprietOTS  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  metitioned,* 
and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and  etching 
historibal  and  other  prints.*' 

I).  CALDWELL, 
Clerk  of  th^  Dihtrict  of  J^eJinshlrariu:. 


CONTENTS, 


CHAP.  I. 


CHAP.  II. 


CHAP.  in. 


Page  I 


CHAP.  IV. 
CHAP.  V. 


CHAP.  VI. 


CHAP.  VII. 


10 


Principles  of  Military  Discipline,    .    . 
Carnot's  idea  of  discipline  ....Marshal  Saxe.... 

Guibert.... Frederic  II General  Lloyd.... 

Salden.... Major  Armstrong. 

Alterations  of  the  French  System,  .     . 

That  of  1791,  exceptions  to....altered....New 
Method  of  Oblique  Movements.... imitated 
by  the  English... .exemplification  by  Dia» 
grams. 

On  the  Manner  of  Conducting  Drills, 
What  a  good  method  consists  in.. ..Absurd 
practices  to  be  discarded.. ..Drills  com- 
mitted to  incompetent  persons. ...How  to 
teach.... Officers  should  conduct  drills,... 
Brutal  conduct  pernicious. ...What  is  dis- 
cipline....No  abuse  or  cruelty.... How  to 
command.. ..We  hug  antiquated  errors.... 
Generosity  and  good  temper  important 
and  becoming  in  officers. 

Words  of  Command  and  Military  Terms,    .     17 

Order  of  Instruction, 25 

First,  second,  third,  fourth  drills.... 
Pivots  and  guides.. ..Fifth,  sixth  drills.... 
Oblique  movements... .Seventh,  eighth  drills. 

The  Practical  Drill,        32 

§  1.  Forming  and  sizing....TeUing  off. 

§  2.  Facing. 

§  3.  Facing  about. 

§  4.  Marching  in  single  file,  and  wheeling. 

Elements  of  evolution, 4l 

§  1.  Wheeling  from  the  right  and  left  of  sections , 
§  2.  Central  movements  of  sections. 
§  3.  Flank  movements  of  sections. 
§  4.  Countermarching. 
§  5.  Sections  of  three. 


*3  JT^JVD  BOOK  FOR  IJ^FAJ^TRY. 


CHAP.  I. 


THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  MILITARY  DISCIPLINE. 

X  HE  movements  of  men  in  military  order  and  in  a  mili- 
tary manner,  form  the  first  and  most  important  of  all  the  duties 
of  the  military  art ;  they  are  the  immediate  objects  of  a  good 
discipline.  Understood,  this  is  the  simplest  of  all  arts ;  perhaps 
it  may  be  attributed  to  this  circumstance,  that  it  is  not  attended 
to  in  the  manner  it  should  be. 

**  It  is  military  discipline,'*  says  Carnot,  in  a  work  published 
in  1811,"  which  constitutes  the  glory  of  the  soldier,  and  the 
power  of  armies." 

The  great  perfection  of  military  discipline  is  to  be  found  in 
the  art  of  marc/ting  well  ;  or,  as  the  celebrated  Marshal  Saxe 
expressed  it :  "  j^U  the  mystery  of  military  discipline  is  t9  be 
found  in  the  legs,  and  he  nuho  thinks  otheriyise  is  a  fool.'** 

The  celel)rated  Gidbert,  another  distinguished  military  man, 
thus  exDresses  himself — "  The  Greeks  and  Romans  had  a 
'•  regular  cadenced  march  ;  what  its  measure  was  wc  are  igno- 
"  rant.  It  is  in  our  time"  (during  the  seven  years'  war  between 
175  5  and  1763)  "  that  the  cadenced  march  has  been  introduced 
"  in  European  armies  ;  I  may  say  discovered,  as  for  many  years 
"  it  slept  in  obscurity.  Marshal  Saxe  esteemed  it  as  the  most 
"  interesting  circumstance,  and  which  ought  one  day  to  mark  a 
^*  great  epocha  in  the  improvement  of  ^ac^zcs.  This  great  man 
"  seemed  as  though  he  had  the  skill  of  foretelling  the  revolu- 
"  tions  which  were  to  be  made  in  the  principles  of  this  science, 
*'  when  he  wrote,  in  his  ReverieSy  that  all  the  mystery  of  tactics 
"  ivas  to  be  found  in  the  legs" 

"  So  essential,"  says  Saxe,  "  is  marching  in  cadence,  that  the 
"  army  which  marches  best,  must,  every  thing  else  being  equal, 
"  in  the  end  prevail," 


%  i'lRST  PRINCIl^XES    Ot 

In  his  chapter  upon  formation,  Saxe  says—"  I  propose  to  treat 
"of  this  subject  in  a  ^manner  so  new,  and  it  is  a  copious  one, 
"  that  I  shall  probabjy  expose  myself  to  ridicule,  but  I  shall 
"  nevertheless  examine  it.  I  begin  with  the  murch :  which 
"  subjects  me  to  the  necessity  of  advancing  what  will  appear 
**  very  extravagant  to  the  ignorant.  According  to  the  present 
"  method,  the  march  is  accompanied  with  confusion,  noise,  and 
"  fatigue,  without  any  other  effect ;  the  sole  remedy  for  which 
"  appears  to  be  a  secret  left  for  me  to  disclose.  As  every  man 
"  is  suffered  to  consult  his  own  ease,  some  march  fast,  some 
"  slow.  What  can  be  expected  of  troops  that  cannot  be  brought 
"  to  move  in  one  regular  pace,  quick  or  slow,  as  directed  by  the 
"  commanding  officer ;  or,  as  the  exigency  may  require,  and 
"  that  an  officer  is  obliged  to  be  posted  at  every  turn  to  hasten 
"  the  rear  ?  If,  on  a  march,  the  front  be  ordered  to  quicken 
"  its  pace,  the  rear  must  unavoidably  lose  ground  before  it  can 
*^  perceive  the  fault :  to  recover  the  ground,  the  rear  sets  to 
"  run ;  the  head  of  the  succeeding  corps  will  do  the  same  ;  and 
"  the  whole  appears  a  scene  of  disorder  ;  thus  it  becomes  im- 
"  possible  to  march  a  body  with  expedition,  without  forsaking 
"  all  order  and  regularity. 

"  The  way  to  obviate  these  inconveniences,  and  many  others 
"  of  greater  consequence,  is  very  simfile,  because  dictated  by 
"  nature  ;  it  is  nothing  more  than  to  march  in  cadence^  in  which 
"  alone  consists  the  whole  mystery,  and  which  answers  to  the 
■'  military  pace  of  the  Romans.  It  was  to  preserve  this,  that 
-'  martial  music  was  first  hivented,  and  drums  introduced.  In 
^'  this  sense,  strictly,  is  the  word  tactics  to  be  understood.  By 
''  means  of  the  cadence,  you  will  always  be  able  to  regulate 
"  your  pace  at  pleasure.  If  all  march  equally  to  the  cadence, 
"  all  will  march  over  an  equal  distance,  by  an  equal  number  of 
"  paces  in  equal  times.  Your  rear  can  never  lag  behind  ;  and 
"  the  whole  will  step  with  the  same  foot ;  your  wheelings  will 
"  be  formed  with  celerity  and  exactness  ;  your  men's  legs  will 
*'  not  mix  together,  and  the  fatigue  will  not  be  in  any  degree 
"  like  the  present  irregularity.  Nothing  is  more  common  than 
"  to  see  a  number  of  persons  dance  together  a  whole  night  with 
^  pleasure  ;  but,  deprive  them  of  music,  and  the  most  indefa- 
"  tigablc  of  them  will  not  be  able  to  bear  it  two  hours  with  any 
"  sJttistaCtion.     If  it  be  asked,  what  particular   airs  I  would 


I 


^^  liecommend  ;  I  answer,  without  being  moved  by  this  raillei*y.t». 
"  ^Yzy  airs  in  triple  time.  Marching  composed  the  principal  part 
"  of  the  Roman  discipline'^     Saxe,  book  1,  chap.  1.  art.  6. 

This  celebrated  soldier  was  not  railed  at.... but  he  was  imitated, 
and  the  Great  Frederick  thought  like  him.  General  Lloyd,  a 
celebrated  Englishman  who  served  in  tlie  Austrian  service,  says, 
in  the  preface  to  the  history  of  the  German  war  ..."  Of  all  the 
**  mechanical  parts  of  war,  none  is  more  essential  than  marchings 
"  which  may  be  justly  called  the  key  which  opens  to  us  all  the 
*'  sublime  motions  of  an  army  ;  for  they  depend  altogether  upcrti 
'»  marching  ivelL'* 

Saldern,  bred  in  the  school  of  Frederic,  in  his  Elements  of 
Tactics,  part  1,  p.  1,2,  says...."  The  most  essential  thing  in  the 
"  instruction  of  a  soldier  is  marching  ;  by  frequent  exercise, 
"  a  large  body  of  men  moves  with  as  much  facility  and  order 
"  as  a  small  one,  and  marching  constitutes  the  basis  of  the 
*•'  science." 

A  work  was  published  by  an  officer  of  the  British  staff,  adju- 
tant general  Armstrong,  in  1808,  it  is  entitled...."  Prac^/ca/ 
"  Observations  on  the  errors  committed  by  generals  and  field 
"  officers^  l^c,  from  1743,  to  the  present  //w/e"....this  judicious 
officer  attributes  the  greater  number  of  the  failures  to  bad  dis- 
cipline, or  the  want  of  system  ;  and  dwells  upon  the  importance 
of  the  elementary  knowledge  in  the  following  eloquent  style.... 

"  Marching  has,  with  great  propriety,  been  deemed  the  first 
and  most  essential  principle  in  field  operations.  The  precision 
with  which  troops  move,  renders  it  easy  for  a  general  officer  to 
calculate  with  accuracy,  the  exact  time  at  which  a  combined 
attack  may  be  executed  i  and  he  is  hereby  enabled  to  regulate 
the  movements  of  his  columns  from  various  distances  to  the 
scene  of  action,  with  ease  and  certainty ;  an  improvement  unques- 
tionably of  modern  introduction ;  and  if  celerity  were  joined  with 
precision  in  combined  operations,  the  advantages  would  be  iacal- 
culaWe ;  as  it  may  with  great  truth  be  asserted,  that  the  succe53 
of  a  war  has  frequently  depended  more  upon  the  vigorous  use 
of  the  legs,  than  on  the  united  effects  of  cannon,  musquetry, 
and  the  sword  Indeed,  it  seems  to  be  admitted  by  sir  David 
Dundas,  "  that  celerity  in  change  of  place  cannot  be  too  great 
when  consistent  with  order,  as  it  gives  the  enemy  less  time  to 
see  the  intention,  or  to  counteract  such  movement ;'"  in  advanc- 
ing to  an  attack  under  the  fire  of  artillery  ;  in  anticipating  an 


4  FIRST  PRINCIPLES    OJP 

enemy  in  seizing  a  post  or  position  ;  instantaneous  movements, 
executed  with  rapidity,  must  be  of  the  greatest  importance,  ar.d 
attended  with  the  most  decisive  effecis... .should  not  our  infantry 
therefore,  march  with  greater  quickness  than  at  the  rate  of  2  1-4 
rniies  in  an  hour  ?  Had  not  Nafiolton  in  his  Italian  campaigns 
outmarched  the  Austrians,  the  events  of  the  war  had  probably 
been  very  different. ...had  his  march  from  Dijon  to  MarcngQ-^ 
from  the  shores  of  the  channel  to  the  plains  of  Jlustcrlitz  ;  and 
from  the  interior  of  France  to  the  fields  of  Jcna^  been  conducted 
on  the  slow  principles  of  German  tactics,  Austria  might  still 
have  preserved  her  immense  power,  and  the  Prussian  monarchy 
have  maintained  its  independence." 

These  authorities  are  here  introduced  for  two  purposes ;  the 
first,  to  repel  the  objections  of  prejudice  and  ignorance  against 
novelty,  which  happily  are  giving  way  to  common  sense ;  and 
second,  to  show  what  constitutes  the  foundation  of  the  mos,t 
important  improvements  in  the  modern  art  of  war,  which  are 
laid  down  by  those  great  men,  and  which  have  been  carried  to 
still  greater  perfection  in  our  own  times. 

Marching  may  be  reduced  to  three  principles,  by  which,  under 
various  combinations  of  number;--,  men  can  be  brought  to  move 
in  countless  forms,  but  all  their  movements  still  depending  on 
these  ihreQ  elements,  marchiTig.... facing, ...ivheelifig  ;  upon  which 
the  whole  art  of  military  action  depends  ;  to  acquire  skill  hi  the 
application  of  these  principles,  should  be  the  first  object  of  him 
who  wishes  to  become  a  military  man. 

Notwithstanding  that  there  is  an  universal  concurrence  on  the 
truth  of  these  principles,  the  means  employed  to  carry  them  into 
effect,  have  been  so  grossly  mistaken,  that  the  application  has  not 
been  every  where  tlie  same  ;  by  some  they  have  been  totally  mis- 
understood, and  by  others  so  varied  or  incumbered  with  modifi- 
cations as  to  have  marred  their  effect ;  or,  what  is  most  general, 
military  teachers,  either  through  indifference,  or  indolence,  or 
the  want  of  a  due  sense  of  the  importance  of  attention  to  the  first 
minute  particulars,  have  begun  too  far  forward ;  they  have  ap- 
peared satisfied  with  bcliruing  they  knew  in  what  the  fundamental 
principles  consisted,  without  ever  reducing  them  to  such  a  state 
as  that  the  ignorant,  by  looking  at  them,  could  comprehend  them. 
Officers  have  been  content  with  a  general  comprehension  of  what 
they  read,  but  they  have  left  the  application  and  exemplification 
to  their  drill  Serjeants  and  corporals y  who  seldom  know  more  than 


MILITARY  DISCirXINE,  a 

to  imitate  what  they  have  seen  or  heard  of,  an.d  teuch  them 
mechanically,  but  never  to  exemplify  or  explain  the  proper  ap- 
plication. Thus  while  we  have  had  an  hundred  volumes  upon 
one  or  another  set  of  manauvres^  and  governments  have  issued 
editions  of  thfm,  which  the  compilers  themselves  did  not  under- 
stand ;  it  was  never  perceived,  that  in  order  to  execute  great 
evolutions,  and  complex  and  combined  manoeuvres,  much  more 
to  carry  them  into  practical  use,  it  was  first  necessary  to  learn  to 
march  firop.erly...Xo  face  p.rofi€rly..,,diX\6.  to  w/kc/  proJierly..,,2S\^ 
that  all  these  marchings  and  wheelings  should  be  executed  oii 
the  shcrtest  lines  possible. ...any  of  which  principles  neglected  or 
omitted,  or  performed  improperly,  would  render  any  evolution 
or  manoeuvre  nugatory  or  ridiculous. 

To  learn  how  to  do  any  thing  well,  we  must  always  keep  in 
mind  the  end  for  which  the  thing  is  to  be  done.  The  intention 
of  discipline  is  war,  or  to  produce  in  a  body  of  armed  men,  such 
knowledge  of  a  common  and  uniform  mode  of  movement,  in 
combined  numbers,  as  will  give  the  whole  of  a  large  force  the 
same  impulse  and  direction  in  any  manner  that  may  be  required 
by  the  general,  add  to  this  the  confidence  which  every  man  must 
feel,  in  knowing  that  every  man  acts  in  the  same  way  as  he  does. 

The  nature  of  ground,  as  well  as  the  species  of  the  troops, 
must  render  operations  in  some  meastire  dissimilar ;  but  the 
perfection  of  discipline  will  be  found  in  that  system  wliich 
applies  the  first  simple  elements  to  every  variety  of  circum- 
stance, and  enables  various  bodies,  moving  in  different  forms,  to 
preserve  still  the  spirit  of  the  original  impulse,  and  though 
moving  in  different  directions  and  arrangements,  to  move  by 
the  same  uniform  laws  of  motion. 

To  render  this  m  5re  distinct,  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men 
may  have  to  face  an  enemy  in  a  country  where  there  may  be  a 
itecessity  of  throwing  the  army  into  three,  four,  or  five  separate 
columns ;  each  having  to  pass  over  ground  different  from  the 
others ;  or  there  may  be  a  necessity  for  farming  in  order  of  battle 
without  an  opportunity  of  selecting  or  making  a  choice  of 
ground :  a  good  discipline  enables  the  general  to  move  his 
columns,  even  when  out  of  his  view,  with  equal  certainty,  and  to 
make  use  of  such  ground  as  he  possesses  with  effect ;  while, 
without  a  good  discipline,  neither  can  be  easily  accomplished,  or 
it  may  require  too  much  time  to  make  the  necessary  dispositions. 


CHAP.  II. 


ALl  ERATIONS  OV  THE  FRENCH  SYSTEAT. 

1 

JL  HE  Fi-ench   system  of  discipline  issuexl   in    1791,  ha?. 

been  improved  upon  several   successive  times^  until  the  whde 

has  become  in  effect  a  new  system. 

The  drill  or  discipline  of  the  soldier,  is  more  minute  and  better 
digested  than  any  other  which  preceded  it ;  yet,  of  the  first 
fourteen  pages  of  which  the  marching  drill  consists,  more  than 
one  half  is  properly  exploded,  because  experience  has  discovered 
that  many  of  the  principles  of  discipline  were  capable  of  being 
executed  by  more  easy  and  rational  methods. 

The  drill  is  divided  into  four  parts,  in  the  French  system, 
and  each  part  consists  of  four  lessons.  The  first  teaches  the 
position  in  single  rank,  and  the  motion  of  the  head  to  right  and 
left ;  the  Second,  facing  without  stepping,  that  is,  turning  on  one 
of  the  heels,  as  on  a  pivot,  to  right,  or  left,  and  about ;  thirdj 
the  ordinary  step  ;  and  fourth,  the  oblique  step. 

There  are  strong  exceptions  to  this  manner  of  instruction  : 

-f/>5^.... After  the  position  is  taken  in  rank,  thfe  natural  consi- 
deration is  what  a  soldier  has  to  do  :  and  as  action  is  his  duty, 
and  the  action  of  the  legs  the  first  principle  ;  it  is  preposterous 
to  teach  any  thing  that  is  impracticable  in  action,  or  unnatural 
in  its  operation  ;  thus  facing  upon  a  fixed  heel  may  answer  for 
dancing  in  a  theatre,  but  it  is  ridiculous  on  a  parade,  and  ought 
to  be  exploded  altogether. 

The  second  part  of  the  drill,  contains  the  manual,  and  the 
firing  motions;  platoon  exercise,  oblique  fire,  Sec. 

Second... .Tht  manual  exercise  should  not  be  taught  until  the 
recruits  have  gained  a  tolerable  idea  of  marching  in  time  and 
wheeling  ;  of  diminishing  and  augmenting  front  from  the  flanks 
of  platoons  or  sections.  Their  habits  will  be  brought,  by  that 
time,  to  a  familiarity  with  military  motion  and  command  ;  and 
the  manual  exercise,  being  itself  merely  ornamental,  and  other- 
wise an  useless  accomplishment,  will  be  soon  and  easily  ac- 
quired, and  serve  as  a  relief  to  more  useful  exercises. 

The  third  part  brings  five  men  together,  teaches  them  to 
step  out  in  front,  and  the  practice  of  a  variety  of  kinds  of  step».».» 


MIHTAHY   DISCIPtlNE.  7 

Hj^rching  to  a  flank.... principles  of  alignmenj,  or  dressing  in 
llbc.,.. wheeling  and  change  of  direction. 

TAird....Thh  lesson  of  the  French  system  is  premature  ;  it 
should  be  preceded  by  acquiring  the  cadence,  or  marking  ol^ 
time,  by  the  strqke  of  each  foot  alternately,  and  together  in  time, 
to  the  soimd  of.. ..owe,  two. ..one,  two. ...one,  two..,.hy  the  officer 
who  has  charge  of  the  drill.  So  soon  as  they  strike  time  tole- 
rably, they  should  be  faced  to  the  right,  and  to  the  left,  and  to 
the  right  about,  and  to  the  left  about ;  and  so  constantly,  until 
the  ear  becomes  habituated  to  wait  for  the  word,  and  npt  to 
anticipate,  nor  to  delay  after  it  is  given ;  until  they  are  com- 
pleted in  this  mode  of  facing,  they  should  not  be  allowed  to  ad- 
vance a  step  beyond  the  line  upon  which  they  were  first  formed. 

Fourt/i....Tht  lesson  in  the  French  discipline  of  1791,  called 
the  oblique  step,  is  wholly  exceptionable,  unnatural  and  useless  ; 
and  the  moment  quick  time  becomes  the  time  of  movement,  is 
utterly  imfiructicahle ;  it  is  therefore  now  very  properly  exploded, 
and  in  its  place  is  substituted  a  more  elegant,  natural,  and  useful 
improvement,  that  which  the  French  have  called  the  Line  of 
Science,  and  which  is  accomplished,  in  practice,  by  half  facing 
and  quarter  facing  ;  meaning  thereby,  half  or  quarter  of  the  half 
circle  which  a  man*s  vision  embraces  in  a  standing  position. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  view  of  this  principle  taken  from  f 
the  French  ;  it  has  not  before  appeared  in  English,  though  the 
principle  has  been  adopted  in  practice  by  several  intelligent 
officers  in  the  British  service,  who  have  directed  their  minds  to 
the  discipline  of  light  corps,  as  Russei,and  Coo/urin  his  "P?^:- 
tical  Guide  for  the  Light  Irfmtry  0^^.  fr,"  published  in  1806. 

"  The  received  method  of  wheeling  is  compared  to  the  turning 
of  a  gate  upon  its  hinges,  and  the  term  fdvot  has  been  given  to 
the  man  on  that  end  of  the  rank,  upon  which  the  others  move  in 
circles,  each  man  making  a  movement  upon  his  particular  cir- 
cle, of  which  the  pivot  man  is  the  common  centre.  While  no 
better  mode  was  devised,  and  all  troops  executed  their  mgve- 
ments  in  the  same  way,  the  disadvantages  were  equal,  but  so 
soon  as  a  better  is  discovered  that  must  necessarily  be  adopted: 

"  Another  method  of  movement  is  what  has  been  termed 
marching  by  the  oblique  step  in  which  it  suffices  to  say,  that  it 
is  unnatural  and  absurd  ;  that  it  is  imj)ossible  for  m^en  to  march 
with  accuracv,  or  tbut  case  and  Sfi^lf  collection  which  is  reonired 


a  FIRST  prinjciples  of 

in  action,  in  a  position  so  constrained  and  tortured  ;  neitlier  is 
it  adapted  for  a  parade  of  show,  for  which  it  appears  to  have  been 
originally  devised ;  nor  is  it  in  any  manner  practicable  but  at  a 
slow  march,  and,  along  with  slow  marching,  must  be  laid  aside. 
Indeed  at  the  pace  of  76,  90,  or  120  in  a  minute,  upon  a  quick 
march,  if  there  be  any  obliquity  required,  the  body  naturally 
assumes  the  entire  direction  towards  the  point  intended  to  be 
reached,  and  if  it  be  to  the  right,  the  right  shoulder  of  every 
man  in  succession  falls  behind  the  left  shoulder  of  the  file  to 
his  right ;  and  so  of  files  marching  to  the  left ;  and  it  is  there- 
fore more  consistent  to  determine  the  movement  in  the  natural 
form  vnder  its  proper  name,  rather  than  retain  an  impracticable 
mode  of  movement."  The  movement  substituted  for  this  dis- 
torted method  is  called  the  Line  of  Science,  because  it  is  esta- 
blished on  scientific  principles,  and  because  it  enables  troops  to 
move  with  perfect  ease,  precision,  and  celerity,  conforming  to 
only  the  following  rules : 

1 .  The  men  should  move  in  a  natural  manner,  and  always 
in  a  right  line. 

2.  Every  movement  should  be  made  to  a  detennined  point. 

3.  Every  individual  in  single,  double,  or  triple  ranks,  or 
any  deeper  order  still  retaining  its  form,  and  moving  or 
displaying  to  a  fiank,  should  march  on  a  distinct  and 
direct  line,  from  the  point  at  which  the  movement  com- 
mences, to  the  point  at  which  it  terminates. 

4.  Every  evolution  should  be  executed  within  a  space  equal 
to  the  front  of  the  body  which  executes  the  evolution. 

To  exemplify  to  the  eye  the  operation  of  this  simple  method, 
the  following  diagrams  exhibit  both  methods  : 


rre.  1. 


•  if /■'/ //. ■'/, '■'.-■ 

ill  ii    ///,■■:. 


MILITARY   DISCIPLINE.  9 

Fig.  1.  represents  a  squad  of  16  files  front,  in  two  positions. 
The  left  or  horizontal  shaded  lines  represent  the  squad  as  faced 
from  the  eye  cf  the  reader,  and  about  to  receive  the  following 
words  of  command : 

Attention  the  squad. 
Take  care  to  wheel  upon  your  right. 

Mark  time,.,. 
By  your  right„„wheel. 

The  circular  lines  represent  the  course  which  each  file  mu.'jt 
necessarily  pursue  ;  the  perpendicular  shaded  line  represents 
ihe  squad  when  it  has  accomplished  its  wheel  upon  the  right. 

Fig.  2,  represents  the  same  squad  about  to  accomplish  the 
same  purpose  of  forming  upon  the  right,  or  perpendicular  to 
the  line  of  its  horizontal  front  ;  but  to  execute  the  movement 
in  an  oblique  direction,  each  file  moving  upon  a  distinct  but 
direct  line... .the  words  of  the  drill  in  this  case  will  be  : 

•Attention  ilie  quad. 
Take  care  to  form  perpendicular  to  your  right, 

Mark  time. 
To  the  right.,,, half  face,,.. march. 

The  half  facing  consists  of  each  man  so  moving  his  person 
that  his  right  shoulder  shall  be  placed  as  he  stands,  behind  the 
left  shoulder  of  his  right  hand  file ;  and  that  on  the  word  marchy 
every  man  steps  off  with  the  left  foot,  and  moves  in  a  direct 
line  to  the  point  at  which  he  is  to  form,  where  he  fronts  and 
dresses  by  the  files  which  have  preceded  him. 


Al>  FIRST  PRIKCIPLES  OF 

CHAP.  ni. 


ON  THE  MANNER  OF  CONDUCTING  DRILLS, 

A  GOOD  method  of  instruction  in  military  disciplincj 
should  exclude  every  thinc^  that  is  unnatural  or  not  applicable 
to  actual  military  service  in  action.  If  any  thing  be  admitted  at 
any  time  in  the  parades  of  show,  mounting  guard,  or  the  like, 
it  should  be  taught  separately,  and  after  the  principles  of  a  ra- 
tional discipline  are  well  established.  Thus,  turning  on  a  fixed 
heel,  as  is  customary  in  relieving  centinels,  and  facing  to  the 
right  about  on  a  fixed  heel,  should  not  be  suffered  in  the  drill, 
nor  until  the  habit  is  formed  to  execute  every  motion  of  the 
body  with  moving  feet. ...hwt  it  would  be  better  to  jibolish  it 
altogether. 

A  strong  exception  must  be  made  to  the  old  discipline,  in 
what  is  called  setting  uji  the  recruit  ifl  a  stiff  position,  which  is 
at  best  unnatural  and  always  unnecessary. 

Another  exception  is  to  confining  the  first  instruction  to  one* 
two  or  three  recruits  at  a  time.  The  recruits  should  not  be 
less  than  twenty,  if  practicable ;  fifty  are  better  than  ten  or  fif- 
teen. The  men,  however  awkward,  should  be  formed  in  one 
rank  as  they  reach  the  ground,  and  taught  to  form  on  any  re- 
quired front,  and  to  the  left  of  the  first  man  posted  ;  they  should 
be  told  to  stand  perfectly  free,  to  carry  their  heads  erect  with- 
out being  thrown  back,  and  to  stand  upon  their  feet  so  that  their 
weight  shall  not  press  wholly  upon  the  heels,  but  that  the  heels 
press  lightly  on  the  ground.  If  the  officer,  who  has  charge  of 
their  instruction,  present  in  himself  a  good,  erect  and  easy 
military  figure,  his  appearance  will  do  more  than  any  verbal 
instruction;  and,  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  march,  two  r.r  more 
well  disciplined  commissioned  officers,  should  march  to  the 
front,  so  detached  from  them,  as  that  their  movements  and  man- 
ner may  be  seen  ;  and  they  should  be  careful  that  all  their 
movements  in  the  presence  of  recruits,  be  unconstrained  and 
uniformiy  correct.  Practice,  with  the  object  before  the  eye, 
<aves  a  vast  deal  of  time,  and  prevents  a  great  waste  of  words 


MILITARY   DISCIPLINE,  11 

It  is  too  much  the  practice  to  commit  the  charge  of  the  ele» 
mentary  drills  to  non-commissioned  officers,  by  which  many 
great  evils  are  produced.  No  officer  caa  expect  t©  be  compe- 
tent to  command  a  company,  much  less  a  regiment,  (to  which 
every  officer  should  through  merit  aspire)  unless  he  has  had 
practical  experience  j  and  in  no  circumstance  can  an  officer 
no  soon  acquire  the  habit  of  command,  or  learn  the  mode  and 
effect  of  discipline,  as  by  personally  conducting  the  drill  of  40 
to  100  men.  By  devolving  these  fir^t  duties  on  non-commis- 
sioned officers,  the  commissioned  officers  remain  ig?iora7if  or 
timid  3'  and  the  chance  of  finding  non-commissioned  officers, 
who  can  clearly  comprehend  and  explain  the  principles  of  a 
good  discipline,  is  not  one  in  twenty  ;  from  which  cause  it  is 
twenty  to  one  that  the  recruits  are  imperfectly  or  erroneously 
taught. 

It  is  observed  by  the  British  general,  Dundas,  with  a  degree 
of  truth  that  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  upon  the  mind 
of  every  man  who  holds  a  military  commission:  "That  the 
"  complete  instruction  of  an  officer,  enlarges  with  his  situation, 
«  and  at  last  takes  in  the  whole  circle  of  military  science  :  but 
'*  an  officer  who  cannot  thoroughly  discipline  and  exercise  the 
<•  body  entrusted  to  his  command,  (large  or  small)  is  not  fit,  in 
«  time  of  service,  to  lead  it  against  an  enemy  ;  he  cannot  be 
"  cool  and  collected,  in  time  of  danger  ;  he  cannot  profit  of  cir- 
*'  cumstances,  from  his  inability  (to  comprehend  what  is  doing 
*^  by  the  enemy,  or  what  is  necessary  10  be  done  against  them^ 
••  to  direct  it  properly  ;  the  fate  of  many  depends  on  his  well  or 
'<-  ill  acquitting  himself  of  his  duty  :  for,  it  is  not  sufficient  to 
<'  advance  with  bravery ;  it  is  requisite  to  possess  that  degree 
•*  of  intelligence,  which  should  distinguish  every  officer  accord- 
^'  ing  to  his  station  :  nor  will  soldiers  act  with  spirit  an.d  anima- 
*'  tion,  when  they  have  no  reliance  on  tlie  capacity  of  those  ivho 
*'  conduct  them** 

He,  therefore,  who  has  the  charge  of  a  drill,  or  v/ho  teaches 
Qthers,  should  not  be  himself  ignorant ;  nor  siiould  he  be  of- 
fended at  the  ignorance  of  those  who  never  had  an  opportunity 
to  learn  ;he  should  be  patient,  but  firm  ;  generous,  but  without 
relaxing  from  the  strictness  of  duty  j  he  should  command  his 
own  temper  in  order  to  secure  respect.  Every  word  should  be 
explained,  and  a  single  explanation,  or  the  comprehension  of 


12  JflliST  tftlNClPLES   OF 

the  explanation  by  one  or  a  few  of  those  whom  he  is  to  teach 
will  not  be  sufficient. ...he  should  never  be  tired  of  rendering 
what  he  teaches  intelligible. ...every  n)an  in  the  drill  should 
understand  every  word  that  is  used,  and  the  use  of  every  motion 
and  movement  he  makes  ;  and  personal  actions  should  be  used 
in  explanation  wherever  praclicable  ;  so  tiiat  whenever  a  word 
is  used,  or  a  movement  commanded,  not  only  the  word  shall  bo 
familiar  to  the  ear  by  repeated  use  and  illustration,  but  the 
movement  itself  by  frequent  practice  familiar  to  the  eye. 

All  drills  therefore  should  be  conducted  by  commissioned 
officers,  who  should  always  keep  in  mind,  tiiat  discipline  is  as 
necessary  for  him  that  teaches, as  for  tho.se  that  are  taught.  lie 
should  be  careful  that  he  acts  personally  according  to  the 
manner  he  teaches ;  and  that  all  his  own  motions  conform  to 
the  principles  he  gives  :  he  should  keep  in  mind  that  the  soldier 
very  soon  discovers  the  capacity  of  the  officer;  and  that  unless 
the  ofBcer  possesses  skill  liimself,  he  cannot  expect  the  soldiers 
to  confide  in  him,  nor  to  respect  him  ;  they  may  be  made  to 
fear  his  power,  but  the  confidence  which  is  most  precious  to  a 
good  officer,  is  that  whicii  arises  out  of  the  voluntary  esteem 
and  respect,  produced  by  the  generosity  of  his  conduct  and  the 
skill  which  he  manifests  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  ;  wlien  he 
treats  those  over  wliom  he  is  placed,  as  men  whose  happiness 
and  credit  he  studies,  rather  than  as  slaves  over  whom  he  has 
the  right  to  tyrannize. 

In  some  armies,  the  mind  and  feelings  of  the  man  are  never 
studied;  his  passions  are  never  called  forth, excepting  to  excite 
terror  and  hatred  of  his  officers  ;  and  there  have  been  men  who 
have  held,  that  the  army  should  be  more  afraid  of  their  own 
general  than  of  the  enemy  I  liat  we  must  reprobate  such 
ignorance  of  human  nature.  "  He  who  attempts  to  govern  by 
the  lash,**  said  Tbnour^  "  knows  not  how  lo  govern.'*  There  is 
no  incompatibility  in  exciting  the  generous  affections  of  the 
soldier  with  the  principles  of  discipline.  The  celebrated  general 
Lloyd,  speaking  of  the  Germi:\n  discipline,  reprobates  its  savagt: 
character  by  observing:  "that  blows  may  make  a  man  a  coward, 
butnevermadea  hero.*'  When  the  officers  convince  the  soldiers 
that  they  understand  their  own  duties,  the  soldiers  will  res- 
pect them  ;  ofHccrs  have  only  to  demonstrate  that  they  are  the 
soldiers*  friends,  and  they  may  lead  them  to  the  cannon's  mout'r: 


MIT^ITARY ,  DISCIPLINE.  15 

wnh  an  enthusiasm  that  never  fails  to  triumph  when  regulated 
by  discipline.  The  triumphs  of  the  French  armies,  in  which  no 
man  is  ever  beaten  with  a  cane,  and  in  which  whipping  never 
was  known,  is  all  that  need  be  said  about  the  futile  barbarity  of 
military  punishments,  by  the  lash  or  by  any  species  of  degrading 
torture.*  The  humblest  bred  man  who  stands  in  the  ranks  of 
an  army,  is  as  susceptible  of  the  seniimcnt  of  glory,  and  honor, 
asd  shame,  as  the  proudest  captain  that  ever  carried  a  plume. 

The  ideas  of  the  last  century  sliil  prevail  too  much  in  the 
military  service  ;  while  the  British  have  been  gradually,  though 
reluctantly,  abandoning  their  mistakes  and  errors,  to  adopt  prin- 
ciples which  have  demonstrated  their  superiority  in  practical 
effects  over  the  whole  of  the  military  sys^tems  of  Europe,  too 
many  continue  to  hug  the  errors  which  they  have  abandoned. 

The  principle  of  discipline  most  prevalent  is  terror,  cruelty, 
and  degradation, ...The  soldier  is  treated  as  the  outcast  of  the 
earth,  and  however  different  he  may  be  when  he  enters  the 
ranks,  the  manner  of  his  treatment  too  often  transforms  him 
into  the  miserable  slave  which  he  is  pre-supposed  to  be. 

This  treatment  is  inconsistent  with  reason  and  with  hum.anity. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  discipline  or  subordination.  A  generous, 
affectionate,  and  cherishing  courtesy,  -aIU  overcome  the  most 
liardened  villain,  and  where  it  fails,  cruelty  or  barbarity  will 
never  succeed.  The  line  between  fauiiliarity  and  kind  conduct 
is  easily  drawn  by  men  of  sense,  conscious  of  themselves.  It  is 
incompetent  men  alone  who  will  treat  a  soldier  in  the  ranks 
with  contempt  or  cruelty.  On  the  parade  good  temper  and  good 
manners  should  never  be  absent.  Haughtiness  is  incompatible 
with  true  dignity ;  openness,  generosity,  and  firmness,  constitute 
the  true  deportment  which  inspires  respect  without  exciting 
fear,  which  commands  with  decision,  and  is  obeyed  implicitly  ; 
aad  which  is  inflexible  only  m  the  discharge  of  duty. 

The  instructor  of  a  drill  should  be  of  a  cfceerful  but  firm  dis^ 
position,  more  disposed  to  laugh  at  the  rude  mistakes  of  the 
first  drills,  than  to  use  opprobrious  language:  he  must  have 
discernment  and  good  sense,  to  know  that  as  the  habits  of  men 


*  The  author  has  the  satisfaction  to  say,  that  since  the  first  edition  of  thh 
^•ork  was  issued,  "vvhipping  has  bceu  eradicat'^d  from  the  American  militaiy 
penal  code. 


14  PIRST   PRIA'CIPLES   OF 

newly  entering  upon  military  exercises,  have  been  formed  dif- 
Terently,  that  they  must  be  expected  not  to  change  their  habits 
suddenly,  or  embrace  habits  at  once  different  from  those  they 
have  been  accustomed  to. 

It  should  be  explained  that  the  first  lessons  of  the  marking 
firnej  ihefince, facings  and  ivheeling,  are  only  like  the  first  lessons 
in  readinp^  and  writing ;  that  it  is  requisite  to  practise  them 
often,  and  to  perform  them  with  the  greatest  exactness,  in  the 
first  beginnings,  in  order  to  carry  the  same  correctness  and 
exactness  into  more  enlarged  practice. 

That  the  duties  of  a  company  are  tlic  same  as  the  duties  of  a 
regiment  rnd  of  a  whole  army. ...that  the  whole  of  the  military 
art  consists  in  inarching^  facings  and  ivheeling,  according  to  the 
rules  which  experience  has  proved  to  be  the  most  effective  ; 
and  that  without  perfection  in  these  particulars,  arms  would  be 
of  liUle  or  no  use,  opposed  to  trooj'S  who  are  well  disciplined. 
These  instructions  should  be  introduced  in  familiar  and  persua- 
sive language,  as  advice  lather  than  command  ;  always  with 
good  temper  and  kindness. ,..a(^/i5£'  7iever  ! 

His  words  of  command  should  be  clear,  sufficiently  loud  to 
be  distinctly  heard,  and  of  a  full  round  sound,  rather  than  in  a 
deep  or  shrill  voice. 

The  advantages  and  security  of  a  good  discipline  should  be 
constantly  brought  into  view  ;  the  strength  of  compact  lines  and 
columns,  and  the  necessity  of  marching  correctly,  over  equal 
spaces  in  equal  times,  should  be  hinted  at  as  being  the  means 
by  which  the  whole  power  and  strength  of  a  line  or  column  are 
brought  to  bear  at  the  same  instant. 

He  should,  before  any  thing  is  begun,  take  pains  to  explain 
what  is  intended  to  be  done,  and  how  it  is  to  be  done,  particularly 
in  the  beginning;  it  may  be  less  necessary  as  he  advances;  and 
when  any  thing  is  to  be  performed  of  which  their  understanding 
may  be  doubtful,  his  explanation  should  be  repeated. 

In  the  manner  of  command,  much  depends  upon  the  clear- 
ness and  distinctness  of  the  utterance  of  him  who  teaches.  At 
drill  he  must  not  be  sparing  of  explanation. ...but  on  parade  he 
gives  no  instruction,  he  only  commands,  and  sees  that  what  he 
orders  be  executed  properly. 

No  opportunity  should  be  lost  that  is  practicable  to  present  to 
the  eye  of  the  soldier  the  manner  of  any  operation  which  he  is 


MILITARY   DISCIPIilXE.  15 

to  perform  ;  well  disciplined  rnen  presented  in  front,  whose 
actions  may  accord  with  the  command,  and  who  may  be  seen 
by  the  whole  of  the  men  at  drill,  will  have  an  excellent  effect  in 
producing  a  ready  understanding  ;  it  is  much  easier  to  imitate 
what  is  seen  than  to  execute  what  is  barely  described  ;  the  va- 
riety of  habits,  and  the  difVcrence  of  the  meaning  of  the  sanic 
words  in  the  understanding  of  different  persjons,  render  verbal 
description  too  generally  insufficient.  Tliere  can  be  no  mistake 
by  the  eye,  and  every  word  should  be  explained  which  may  not 
be  otherwise  understood. 

The  intention  of  all  discipline  is  to  supply  a  kind  of  artificial 
instinct,  and  to  make  this  uniform  throughout  the  whole  mass 
of  an  army,  so  that  whenever  any  operation  is  required  to  be 
performed  by  an  army,  no  more  is  requisite  than  to  assign  sta- 
tions to  the  several  divisions,and  appoint  the  time  when  the 
movements  commence,  or  when  the  concertof  operations  should 
meet  and  produce  the  effect  required. 

To  discipline  men  well,  there  must  be  a  familiar,  compre- 
hensible, and  rational  method. 

The  more  simple  it  is,  the  more  easily  it  is  understood,  tlic 
better  will  it  be  executed. 

To  this  end,  the  language  must  be  that  of  the  science,  and  it 
must  be  taught  and  explained  with  clearness. 

There  must  be  nothing  unnecessary  nor  unnatural  in  the 
system  ;  every  operation  and  movement  should  bo  executed 
exactly  as  required  ;  in  the  sl^ortest  period  of  time,  and  over 
the  shortest  possible  space  that  it  can  be  accomplished. 

All  good  discipline  begins  with  learning  to TTiarc/;  in  timc^Ziud 
to  a  given  pace^  and  every  man,  from  the  private  to  the  general. 
acting  by  principles  of  movement  equally  wcJl  known  to  then- 
all,  there  must  be  reciprocal  knowledge  and  reciprocal  confi- 
dence. The  general  will  know  in  what  time  and  order  every 
division  can  reach  a  required  point;  satibficd  that  they  arc  dibci- 
plined,  he  will  know  thatthemen  can  accomplish  with  certainty 
what  he  has  designed,  upon  the  foundation  of  their  discipline  ; 
and  therein  all  obtain  an  assurance  of  security  and  power  ;  to 
assure  a  like  confidence,  the  soldier  must  know,  that  the  officer 
who  commands  him,  is  himself  competently  disciplined,  and 
capable  of  discharging  his  duty. 


16^  riRST  ruiNcirxEs  of 

As  all  discipline  is  intended  for  action,  and  not  for  parade, 
discipline  should  be  directed  to  inculcate  that  which  is  adapted 
to  action  only,  as  fundamental,  and  to  make  all  that  appertains 
to  parade,  secondary.. ..action  must  never  be  lost  sight  of  in 
teaching  discipline. 

Slow  time  must  never  be  spoken  of  or  heard  on  the  parade 
for  discipline. ...marching  must  be  taught  at  quick  time,  or  the 
time  of  a  gay  cotillion  or  country  dance  ;  and  the  men  who 
compose  the  drill  must  be  taught  to  mark  time  in  rank,  and  to 
go  through  their  facings,  beiore  they  are  permitted  to  march  a 
single  pace  from  the  line  on  which  they  are  first  dressed. 

In  conducting  the  drill,  so  soon  as  the  evolutions  are  begun, 
they  should  constantly  vary  ;  that  is,  the  evolutions  should  never 
succeed  each  other  in  the  same  order  any  two  times  ;  the  drill 
should  one  day  move  from  the  right,  another  from  the  left,  and 
so  on,  always  different  evolutions ;  by  this  means  the  soldier 
will  never  know  what  movement  is  to  follow  any  other,  and  his 
attention  will  be  constantly  engaged  to  the  words  and  their 
meaning :  the  contrary  practice  is  too  prevalent,  and  the  prac- 
tice of  what  is  called  the  nineteen  manauvres,  is  held  as  the 
consummation  of  military  perfection  ;  when  in  fact,  a  well  dis- 
ciplined soldier  may  never  have  seen  a  single  one  of  these 
manoeuvres,  and  yet  perform  them  or  any  other,  at  the  first 
word  of  command.  This  course  obviously  begets  the  habit  of 
attention,  and  is  strictly  analogous  to  the  uncertainty  of  mili- 
tary action. 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark  here,  for  the  information  of  those 
who  arc  not  already  conversant  in  the  subject;  that  many  of  the 
words  of  instruction,  direction,  and  precaution,  employed  in  the 
drill,  cease  to  be  employed  when  the  battalion  is  completed  in 
lis  discipline.  As  in  common  reading  the  names  of  the  letters 
of  the  alphabet  are  not  repeated,  yet  their  powers  are  employed 
exactly  as  in  the  first  instructions  to  read;  or,  as  in  music,  the 
notes  have  names,  these  names  are  not  employed  in  the  prac- 
tice or  performance  of  music  ;  so  it  is  in  military  discipline.... 
numerous  words  and  commands  are  used  in  the  elemenntary  in- 
struction, which  are  no  longer  rtxiuired  to  be  employed,  though 
their  application  and  their  practical  use  are  never  to  be  omitted  ; 
of  this  description  are  the  commands,  mark  timc....hy  the  aiJ^ 
step,  to  the  rii;/it..,.ov  to  t/ie  left,  &c. 


MIliITARX    DISCIPXINE.  17 


CHAP.  IV. 


OF  WORDS  OF  COMMAND  AND  OTHER  MILITARY  TERMS, 

1  HE  commands  consist  of  general  and  precautionary  di- 
rections or  information,  concerning  what  is  required  or  intended 
to  be  performed;  and  these  are  of  several  kinds. ...they  are 
general,  particular,  precautionary,  auxiliary,  of  direction,  and 
of  execution. 

Commands  are  particular  when  they  declare  the  act  or  mo- 
lion  to  be  performed,  and  these  are  distinguished  into  two  sorts 
of  words. ...thus,  right. ...face. ...the  word  right  commands  the 
thing  to  be  done. ...the  word  face  is  called  the  word  of  execu-- 
iio7iy  because  the  motion  must  not  be  performed  until  the  last 
word  is  given,  and  because  it  remains  yet  unknown  whether  the 
word  to  follow  right. ...IS  face  or  ivheely  and  which  ever  it  is, 
must  be  executed. 

They  are  general,  when  the  whole  of  the  evolution  or  move- 
ment designed  to  be  executed  is  expressed,  2LS.,..Take  care  to 
form  colu7mi....ov^  take  care  to  dis/ilay  the  column. 

Precautionary  words  of  the  drill  dire. ...Dress Attention.' 

Auxiliary  words  are  march,  at  the  close  of  a  word  of  com- 
mand, when  it  becomes  also  a  word  of  execution  ;  so  arc  the 
words, ybrwarrf,  cover,  dress,  mark  ti?ne,  See. 

They  are  directory,  wlien  they  direct  how  a  thing  is  to  be 
done,  as  in  wheeling  to  the  right,  the  right  hand  file  is  directed 
to  standfast  ;  50  the  words,  right,  left,  forward,  are  both  direc- 
tory and' executory. 

Many  other  words  are  also  words  of  execution  ;  but  in  the 
drill  it  is  specially  applied  to  the  lastot  the  words  of  command, 
thus,  right. ..f ace ;  the  word  right  is  the  word  indicating  the 
direction  of  the  motion,  the  word  face  determines  the  act  and 
time  of  its  execution.     Halt  is  a  word  of  execution. 

Dress  is  a  word  of  parade,  intended  to  direct  the  troops  to 
form  with  exactness  in  a  straight  line  to  the  front. 

The  drill  answers  to  the  word  School,  it  is  there  the  exer- 
cises are  commenced  and  the  first  elements  of  military  motion 
taught.  ^ 


18  FmST   PRINCIPXES    QF 

Platoon  originally  signified  any  collection  of  persons  on  a 
small  space  of  ground.. ..it  has  been  used  to  signify  a  limited 
number  of  men  in  military  order,  and  is  still  used  instead  of 
company  ;  the  word  company  being  used  in  an  administrative 
sense,  and  the  platoon  in  the  strictly  military  or  disciplinary 
sense.  It  is  derived  from  the  French  fieleton.  In  the  batta- 
lion exercises,  the  platoon  consists  usually  of  the  front  of  a 
company  in  whatever  order  of  depth.  When  the  companies 
are  strong,  they  are  sometimes  divided  into  half  platoons,  and 
the  half  companies  are  then  likewise  called  platoons.  Compa- 
nies are  often  not  sufficiently  full,  and  then  platoons  are  formed 
according  to  the  orders  of  the  commander,  so  as  to  place  \inder 
the  command  of  an  officer  so  many  as  he  may  effectually  com- 
mand in  action. 

A  COMPANY. ...A  body  of  men  such  as  one  man  may  com- 
mand with  facility,  aided  by  subalterns  ;  the  proper  number  of  a 
company  is  100  men  ;  so  that  a  comfiany  and  a  Roman  century 
would  agree  in  number  ;  and  the  rank  of  ce?uurion  and  ca/itai7i 
would  be  the  same.  There  should  be  an  officer  specially  for 
every  25  men,  so  that  there  should  be  3  subalterns  ;  and  there 
should  be  for  every  fourth  of  a  company,  one  sergeant  and  two 
corporals.  The  Romans  had  an  inferior  officer  for  every  10  men. 

The  number  of  a  company  may  vary  in  a  regiment  on  the 
peace  and  war  establishment. 

SquAD  is  an  abrigement  of  the  word  squadron,  or  the  French 
escadron,  and  is  now  used  to  signify  any  small  body  of  men  de- 
tached upon  ordinary  duties,  such  as  drills  and  fatigjue. 

File. ...A  company  of  100  men  placed  in  a  rank  standing  side 
by  side,  presents  an  hundred  files  ;  the  same  company  in  the 
order  of  two  dcefi,  or  two  ranks,  presents  only  50  files  ;  if  placed 
three  deep,  then  it  presents  33  files,  and  a  broken  file  of  one 
man.  Whatever  be  the  depth,  that  is,  if  the  parade  be  drawn 
up  in  2,  3,  4,  5,  or  even  10  ranks,  the  whole  of  the  men  behind 
the  front  rank  man,  form  but  one  file  ;  and  so  behind  every  man 
in  the  front  rank,  there  arc  files  only  in  equal  numbers  to  the 
front  rank. 

Indian  file. ...a  single  rank  placed  so  that  every  man  stands 
successively  in  the  rear  of  the  rest. 

Rank  and  file. ...signifies  every  man  who  carries  and  uses 
arms  in  action,  so  that  the  corporals  always,  and  sometimes  the 
sergeants,  are  comprehended  in  the  r^nk  and  file. 


MWiXTARY  DISCIPLINE.  J$ 

Supernumerary  rank,  is  the  rank  composed  of  officers  and 
non-commissioned  officers,  4  paces  in  the  lear  of  the  rear  rank 
of  the  company. ...their  duty  is  to  attend  to  the  good  and  close 
order  of  the  ranks. ...and  to  attend  to  the  disabled  in  action. 

A  rank  is  any  number  of  men  placed  side  by  side,  upon  the 
same  front,  and  in  a  straight  line.  When  there  are  two  men, 
one  behind  the  other,  and  this  is  continued  from  right  to  left, 
then  it  is,  according  to  its  composition,  said  to  be  a  squad,  pla- 
toon, company,  or  battalion,  in  two  ranks,  or  two  deep,  or  the 
depth  of  two  men,  or  double  files,  or  of  the  double  order. 

Section  means  any  portion  cut  ©ff,  or  a  small  division  of  a 
large  body. ...thus,  any  plural  number,  two  files  or  more,  may 
be  called  a  section  of  a  rank,  two  are  called  a  double  file.. ..three 
men  also  may  be  called  a  triple  file. ...but  it  will  then  only  signify 
the  same  as  iivo  deefi^  or  three  deefi  ;  sections  are  named  by  the 
number  of  their  front... .and  although  the  number  may  be  one, 
two,  three,  or  four  ranks,  still  the  sections  will  count  only  by  the 
front  rank.. ..so  that  there  may  be  sections  of  3,  4,  5,  6,  or  any 
number  less  than  half  of  a  superior  division  of  the  company.... 
thus  a  company  may,  instead  of  being  exercised  in  a  platoon, 
be  formed  into  half  platoons. ...then  each  of  the  half  platoons 
jmay  be  divided  into  sections  according  to  its  strength. 

In  military  language  it  is  a  species  of  sub-division  of  a  rank 
into  equal  parts,  as  a  section  of  two  is  a  section  of  the  half  of 
four,  and  three  is  a  section  of  the  half  of  six,  or  the  third  of 
nine,  or  tlie  fourth  of  twelve,  or  the  fifth  of  fifteen,  and  so  on; 
it  is  a  section  of  files  counted  by  the  number  of  men  in  front, 
whatever  may  be  the  depth  ;  so  that  when  the  word  of  precau- 
tion is  given  to  a  squad,  platoon,  or  company,  to  take  care  to 
advance  by  sections  from  the  right ;  it  matters  not  whether 
there  be  only  one,  or  two,  or  three,  or  five  ranks,  the  wliole  of 
the  depth  of  the  ranks  which  cover  the  men  In  the  front  rank, 
form  parts  of  the  files,  and  preserve  the  order  of  their  files. 

All  these  terms  are  used  on  the  drill,  occasionally  the  squad 
may  be  called  z.  filatoon  or  company.  The  file  is  the  man  in  the 
front  rank,  and  every  man  behind  him  is  of  the  first  file  ;  but 
face  them  to  the  right,  and  the  first  file  then  becomes  the  first 
rank  or  section  of  the  column  ;  while  if  they  are  fronted  again, 
the  file  is  no  longer  a  section;  if  the  front  rank  be  told  off  in 
sections  of  any  number,  then  whatever  be  the  depth,  they  be- 


20  TIRST  PIlINCirX.ES    OF 

lonj5  to  that  section  whatever  may  be  the  movements  maclc, 
until  that  disposition  or  order  is  changed. 

A  Battalion  should  consist  of  as  many  companies  as  may 
be  governed  and  put  in  motion  for  battle  by  the  means  of  a  staff 
of  two,  three,  or  more  superior  field  officers  and  one  subaltern 
field  officer;  that  is  a  colonel)  lieutenant  celonel,  major,  and 
adjutant. 

A  Regiment  may  be  composed  of  one  or  more  battalions, 
under  the  command  of  a  colonel;  the  original  signification  of 
the  word  colonel  was  the  leader  or  commander  of  a  column. 

A  BiiiGADE  may  be  composed  of  two  or  more  regiments  or 
battalions  ;  commanded  by  a  general  of  brigade.  A  brigade  ou 
the  peace  establishment  may  consist  of  any  number  of  batta- 
lions;  but  f  r  military  service  in  the  field,  the  brigade  should 
not  exceed  4000  men. 

A  Division  is  composed  of  two  or  more  brigades  under  a 
major  general  and  his  staff;  a  division  may  consist  of  any  num- 
ber from  two  to  four  brigades. 

In  Line,  battalions  form  with  an  interval  of  12  to  16  paces  ; 
which  is  occupied  by  two  field  pieces:  sometimes  the  interval 
is  enlarged  to  admit  larger  batteries  of  4,  8,  or  12  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery in  line  at  given  points. 

Discipline  is  the  mechanical  part  of  the  art  of  war  ;  it  deter- 
mines the  habits  of  men  to  certain  rules  of  action,  applicable  to 
the  motion  of  men  and  the  use  of  arms ;  in  an  enlarged  sense, 
discipline  regulates  the  conduct  of  troops  in  camp  and  quar- 
ters ;  and  a  go0d  discipline  implies  the  existence  of  a  well 
defined  and  exact  subordination,  with  a  complete  knowledge  of 
military  duties  in  the  field. 

Exercise  has  two  significations  ;  the  practice  of  marching 
and  executing  evoluiionb  and  manoeuvres  ;  and  the  practice  of 
ihe  use  of  arms,  whether  the  firelock,  cannon,  or  sword,  which 
are  acquired  by  exercise  at  the  drill. 

Order  of  depth. ...the  order  of  depth  is  understood  to  re- 
late to  a  line  drawn  from  the  front  to  the  rear  as  far  as  it  goes, 
and  that  is  the  depth  ;  the  order  of  depth  of  the  Grecian  phalanx 
was  16;  the  depth  of  battalion  was  in  Europe  at  one  period  12  ; 
Gustavus  Adolphus  reduced  it  to  5  ;  the  prevailing  order  in  Eu- 
rope is  now  3  decfi ;  but  that  order  is  not  strong  enough  to  make 
the  charge,  or  to  receive  the  shock,  without  a  reserve. ...the  third 
rank  in  line  should  not  fire,  it  should  load  for  the  centre  rank. 


I 


MILITARY   DISCIPLINE.  21 

Open  order  is  when  the  ranks  are  two  paces  or  more  asun- 
der....this  is  the  order  of  parade  and  inspection. 

Close  order  is  when  the  ranks  are  one  pace  asunder. ...this 
is  the  habitual  order  of  action  and  movement  in  all  exercises 
that  resemble  action. 

Pace. ...the  step  or  pace  should  never  exceed  24  inches. ...any 
augmentation  of  speed  should  proceed  from  the  quickness  of 
the  marchj  or  a  greater  number  of  pacei  in  a  given  time. 

Accelerated  pace  is  the  quickening  from  the  ordinary 
speed  of  76  or  90  in  a  r-iinute  to  120  paces  in  a  minute. 

Marching  is  moving  in  equal  paces  at  equal  times. 

Steps... .there  are  various  steps  in  use,  but  good  sense  has 
exploded  all  that  were  unnatural.  The  steps  retained  are  the 
common  pace  of  24  inches,  and  79  in  a  minute. ...the  short  stefi^ 
used  in  wheeling  ;  when  the  moving  flank  only  steps  24  inches, 
and  the  length  of  pace  of  all  the  rest  of  the  files  diminish  in 
length  successively  from  the  moving  flank  to  the  pivot ;  the  side 
steji^  necessary  for  formation  and  dressing  ;  marking  time^  is  the 
bare  raising  of  the  feet  in  musical  time,  without  moving  from 
the  ground. 

The  steps  abolished  are  the  oblique  atefi^  the  lock  stefi^  or  de- 
ploy  stefiy  all  of  which  are  found  to  be  totally  superfluous  :  the 
backward  step  may  be  said  to  be  abolished  as  to  every  other  use 
but  dressing  in  rank,  there  being  now  no  backward  wheeling. 

Countermarch. ...this  means  when  one  flank  by  marching 
exchanges  place  with  the  opposite  flank. ...countermarching  may 
be  executed  by  files,  sections,  platoons,  or  battalions:  in  the 
front  of  an  enemy  there  must  be  no  countermarching  of  greater 
extent  than  a  platoon. 

Evolutions  signify  the  evolving  or  opening  of  the  deter- 
mined parts  which  compose  a  battalion,  regiment,  brigade,  or 
the  line  of  an  army.  The  word  evolution  implies  a  sigle  move- 
ment or  manner  of  movement,  of  the  component  parts  of  the 
body  moved. 

Manoeuvres  are  composed  of  a  variety  of  evolutions,  per- 
formed at  the  same  time,  or  at  distant  times  and  points,  for  a 
common  purpose  ;  so  that  a  manoeuvre  consists  of  the  applica- 
tion of  various  kinds  of  evolutions  to  one  purpose.  Different 
parts  of  the  same  array  may  execute  diff'erent  manoeuvre?. 


22  yiRST  PRIXCIPiES   ai? 

Deploy.. ..Display.. ..the  same  sense,  signifying  the  unfolding 
of  a  body  of  men  in  deep  order  and  extending  them  in  a  length- 
ened order  or  aligmnent. 

Pivots  are  fixed  or  moveable  ;  the  term  is  derived  from  a 
point  OP  post  turned  upon  ;  when  fixed,  the  man  who  forms  the 
pivot  does  not  move  from  the  ground,  but  turns  upon  it ;  when 
moveable,  the  man  who  is  the  pivot  moves  in  the  direction  best 
adapted  to  effect  the  movement  with  accuracy  and  precision  in 
the  least  required  time. 

Flank. ...this  term  signifies  the  extreme  of  a  body  or  rank 
formed  for  military  purposes ;  it  is  simply  the  extremes  or  ends 
of  a  rank  or  line  ;  thus  a  battalion  formed  in  the  order  of  battle, 
its  left  end  is  called  its  left  flank  ;  and  its  right  end,  its  right 
ilank  ;  so  in  whatever  order  a  military  body  is  formed,  the  sides 
are  the  flanks.  The  right  is  generally  understood  in  discipline 
to  imply  the  re-vcrse  Jlank^  in  opposition  to  the  established  flank 
ar  left,  all  movements  being  presumed  to  be  made  upon  the  left 
as  the  pivot  flank.  This  rule  is  going  out  of  use,  and  ought  to 
be  abolished,  as  the  principles  of  disposition  forbid  any  determi. 
nate  rule  for  the  violation  of  which  there  is  a  necessity  ;  moving 
with  the  right  in  front,  and  ordered  to  form  to  the  right  of  the 
pivot,  the  principle  of  a  reversed  flank  is  totally  destroyed,  for 
the  right  becomes  the  pivot  and  the  left  the  reverse  flank. 

Alignment  is  the  formation  of  the  line,  or  the  junction  of 
two  or  more  bodies  of  troop*  in  a  common  line;  which  is  called 
the  alignment. 

Line. ...an  army  formed  in  the  order  of  battle  is  said  to  be 
formed  in  line  of  battle  ;  but  the  order  of  battle  may  be  compos- 
ed of  several  lines,  two,  three,  and  even  four  lines.  The  charge 
is  generally  made  in  line,  the  reason  of  which  is,  that  the  impulse 
or  shock  may  be  simultaneous,  or  the  same  every  wh<5rc  at  the 
same  moment.  The  term  is  derived  from  the  analogy  of  a  line 
formed  by  their  front,but  the  order  is  not  always  a  straight  line; 
the  nature  of  the  ground  may  prevent  the  arrangement  in  a 
straight  line;  the  line  may  therefore  be  curved  as  wellas  straight. 
The  term  line  is  also  applied  in  several  ways.. ..thus,  an  oflicci 
in  the  army  is  said  to  be  an  ofiicer  of  the  line,  contradistinguish- 
ed from  an  officer  of  the  militia  ;  the  line  is  understood  to  ex- 
press the  order  in  which  a  brigade  or  any  greater  number  of 
battalions  is  formed ;  but  is  never  applied  singly  to  a  regimejit, 


1 


MILITARY  DISCIPLINE.  2S 

though  a  regiment  may  be  described  as  formed  according  to 
the  line  of  battle,  implying  that  the  oQicers  arc  posted  in  the 
same  way  as  if  prepared  for  battle. 

Second  line  in  the  order  of  battle....the  second  line  is  some- 
times stronger  in  numbers,  sometimes  weaker,  than  the  fin»t  or 
front  line.  Second  lines  arc  often  composed  of  distinct  columns 
destined  to  move  without  relation  to  each  other. 

Lines  of  the  order  of  battle  are  usually  from  200  to 
300  yards  apart.  Lines  are  divided  sometimes  into  wings,  as 
right  and  left,  without  any  centre  ;  at  other  times  with  a  centre 
equal  in  number  to  either  of  the  wings. 

The  line  is  composed  also  of  divisions,  which  are  again 
composed  of  brigades,  and  the  brigades  of  regiments  or  batta- 
lions :  and  each  part  of  the  line  is  composed  of  one  or  more  of 
these  parts. 

Army. ...the  whole  of  the  military  force  collected  for  the  pur« 
poses  of  war,  and  consisting  of  all  the  different  kinds  of  troops» 

Column  ...when  the  depth  of  a  military  body  is  greater  than 
its  front,  it  is  said  to  be  formed  in  column;  the  column  is  the 
most  certain  lever  in  the  hands  of  a  skilful  general  for  moving 
an  army,  and  presenting  his  force  with  celerity  on  any  side, 
cither  in  the  deep  order,  divided  into  ssiall  columns,  or  into 
great  close  columns,  or  displaying  into  the  extended  order.  All 
manoeuvres  of  close  columns  should  as  much  as  possible  be 
executed  upon  the  centre. 

Folard's  column  is  fixed  at  any  number  from  25  to  40  in  front, 
but  not  less. 

Open  column. ...when  the  parts  of  a  column  are  distant  from 
each  other  to  an  extent  equal  to  the  front,  or  at  wheeling  dis- 
tance, it  is  called  an  open  column,  or  in  open  order,  and  the 
officers  or  covering  rank  are  then  in  the  interval. 

Close  ooLyMN....wh€^  the  parts  of  a  column  are  oRly  a  pace 
or  two  paces  distant,  it  is  called  close  column  :  the  field  ofliccrs 
are  then  on  the  flank,  upon  which  they  are  to  move  ;  but  the 
captain  and  all  platoon  officers  should  in  all  circumstances  be  on 
the  right  front  rank  of  the  company  or  platooH. 

EcHELLON,  from  echelle,  stairs. ...a  battalion  is  formed  in 
echellon  in  various  modes....by  wheeling  companies  a  given 
number  of  paces  less  than  their  front  on  the  right  or  left,  they 
form  an  eehellon  of  companies  ;  if  upon  the  right  they  form  an 


'V 


2*  TIRST   PRINCIPUES   OF 

cchellon  right  in  front  while  so  wheeled  ;  wheeled  upon  the 
left,  an  echellon,  left  in  front  while  so  wheeled  ;  these  are 
echellons  in  the  oblique  order.  To  form  echellons  in  the  per- 
pendicular order,  the  right  companies  may  be  advanced  succes- 
sively to  the  front,  each  to  a  distance  equal  to  the  length  of  its 
front,  they  will  then  form  perpendicular  echellons,  the  left  only 
retainmg  its  position  ;  so  if  the  left  advance,  the  right  may 
retain  its  position  ;  in  like  manner  the  centre  may  be  advanced 
and  the  flanks  held  back  ;  or  the  centre  held  back  and  the  flanks 
advanced. 

Tactics  comprehends  the  whole  science  of  war  ;  it  consists 
of  two  branches,  the  first  elementary  or  disciplinary  and  me- 
chanical, appertaining  to  the  duties  to  be  performed  :  the 
second  the  more  enlarged  duties  to  be  commanded^  which  com- 
prehends the  first,  together  with  a  knowlege  of  the  coufi  dUil ; 
the  first  belongs  to  the  movements  from  a  company  to  a  divi- 
sion ;  the  second  belongs  to  the  movements  of  a  whole  army. 
Armies  ai*e  put  in  military  movement  according  to  certain 
rules  of  discipline,  which  must  be  uniform  and  exact  through- 
out the  whole  of  an  army. 

Oblique  movement,,. .This  signifies  the  movement  upon  lines 
oblique  to  the  actual  point  of  a  line  of  parade  ;  the  movement 
of  a  rank  forwards  would  be  perpendicular  or  direct ;  the  oblique 
requires  that  each  man  be  faced  to  the  right  or  left  as  may  be 
required,  by  the  word  quarter  face  or  halfface^  and  the  squad 
being  then  moved,  each  man  moves  in  a  line  oblique  to  the 
original  line  of  the  rank. 

Diagonal  7novement,  is  the  movement  of  any  body  in  entire 
rank,  after  being  quarter  or  half  wheeled. 

Diminishing  and  augmenting-  front.. ..this  consists  of  taking 
from  one  flank  a  given  number  of  files,  and  adding  them  to  the 
next  section  in  the  rear ;  or  taking  from  a  rear  and  adding  to  a 
front.  All  augmentations  or  diminishing  in  battalion  should  be 
made  by  even  numbers  of  files,  as  tivoj  four  ;  and  in  drill  and 
evolutions,  where  practicable. 


« 


MILITARY    DISCIPLINE.  25 

CHAP.  V. 

THE  ORDER  OF  INSTRUCTION. 
THE    FIRST   DRILL. 

1  HIS  will  consist,  first,  in  forming  with  the  tallest  men 
on  the  right,  diminishing  successively  to  the  left,  and  dressing  ; 
which  mast  be  executed  without  any  stiffness  or  turning  of  the 
head  ;  but  wholly  by  the  glance  of  the  eyes. 

The  second  process  will  be  teaching  to  mark  time. 

The  third  will  be  facing  to  the  right  or  lefc  side, and  a^owr,  as 
commanded,  always  with  a  raised  and  moving  foot. 

The  fourth,  of  ranking  and  sizing,  or  reducing  the  rank  to 
the  order  of  the  tallest  men  on  the  extremes  or  ilanks,  and  the 
smallest  men  to  the  centre. 

THE    SECOND   DRILL. 

This  commences  the  marching,  and  teaches  the  rank  to  step 
off  in  paces  of  two  feet,  with  a  bent  knee,  at  76  and  then  at  90 
paces  in  a  minute.  The  pace  of  120  in  a  minute  is  not  to  be 
taught  till  the  discipline  of  the  company  is  commenced. 

The  first  mode,  is  marching  to  a  front  direct,  facing  and 
wheeling  upon  right  lines  and  angles.  This  must  be  perfectly 
taught  in  single  rank  ;  and  the  whole  must  be  marched  and 
wheeled  in  single  or  Indian  file,  before  any  modification  of  the 
movements  takes  place. 

THE    THIRD    DRILL. 

The  operations  of  this  drill,  consist  in  marching  in  more  thati 
single  file,  and  this  will  combine  three  other  important  branches 
of  discipline. 

First. ...telling  off  into  double  files,  and  into  sections  of  any 
Kcquired  number  at  command. 

Second. ...marching  and  wheeling  in  the  order  of  those  files 
and  sections. 

Third. ...augmenting  or  diminishing  the  number  of  the  files 
or  sections  during  the  march,  and  in  the  wheelings. 


S6  FIRST  PRINCIPLES   OP 

THE  FOURTH    DRIItL. 

The  movements  in  single  rank  in  this  drill,  should  con^mence 
with  marching  forward  in  a  rank  well  dressed  ;  then  facing  the 
rank  to  the  right,  and  moving  forward  in  single  or  Indian  file, 
at  90  paces  in  the  minute  ;  the  rank  may  then  be  wheeled  in 
this  order  to  the  right,  and  to  the  left,  and  to  the  right  about,  in 
line  and  in  single  files,  marking  time,  and  going  round  at  a  re- 
gular cadenced  pace  in  every  instance.  The  rank  should  be 
marched  then  back  to  the  original  ground,  faced  to  the  left,  and 
marched  off  again,  and  put  through  wheelings  in  every  diree- 
tion  ;  never  following  the  same  routine,  but  throughout  the 
whole  course  of  the  drills,  always  varying  the  circumstances  of 
each  succeeding  facing  or  wheeling. ...When  brought  to  the  pa- 
rade again,  the  rank  should  be  kept  at  marked  time,  until  well 
dressed,  and  then  halted. 

From  the  first  movement  on  parade,  which  should  always  be 
preceded  by  the  word  attention. ...and  begin  with  the  word...* 
mark  time  ;  the  feet  should  preserve  their  uniform  cadence, 
without  intermission,  until  the  word  halt  is  given ;  after  which, 
no  evolutions  should  be  commenced,  without  the  prelude  of 
attention^  and  the  auxiliary  word  of  movement.. ..marA'  time. 

PIVOTS   AND    GUIDES. 

In  this  stage  of  the  instruction,  guides  are  to  be  introduced  ; 
at  first,  by  well  drilled  men  or  non-commissioned  officers,  plac- 
ed, for  the  purpose,  on  alternate  flanks ;  by  these  will  be  shown 
the  principles  of  wheeling  upon  a  pivot,  and  effacing  pivots,  at 
the  cautionary  word....while  the  rest  of  the  rank,  who  are  not 
pivots,  wait  for  the  second,  or  word  of  execution  :  as,  for  exam- 
ple, the  word  being  given  to  a  rank  drawn  up,  by  the  right 
....FACE  ;  the  man  on  the  right  of  the  rank  is  the  pivot,  and  at 
the  vfovd.... right,  he  faces  to  the  right,  while  the  rest  of  the 
rank  continue  at  marking  time  until  the  word...//ce  is  given, 
when  they  turn  in  the  same  direction.  This  principle  extends 
to  both  facing  and  wheeling,  in  rank  and  on  the  march  ;  and 
through  every  operation  of  wheeling,  whether  of  files  or  batta- 
lions, the  pivot  always  takes  the  direction  signified  by  the  word 
of  precaution. ...and  the  rest  of  the  rank,  section,  platoon,  or  bat- 
talion, wait  for  the  word  of  execution. 


MILITARY  DISCIPLINE.  37 

The  correctness  of  the  movemeBts,  the  regularity  of  the 
wheelings,  and  their  exactness  and  precision,  greatly  depend 
on  the  instructions  and  explanations  given  by  the  officer  who 
has  charge  of  the  drill,  and  by  his  constant  attention  to  the  use 
of  the  pivots  ;  which  is  the  more  necessary  in  this  stage  of  ex- 
ercise because  the  principle  is  extended  to  the  naoveable  guides 
of  evolution  in  a  more  advanced  stage  of  discipline. ...which 
consists  only  of  placing  men  well  disciplined  on  the  advancing 
flank^  or  outer  flank,  or  as  it  is  called,  the  reversed  flank,  in  a 
wheel.. ..while  ihQfiivot  is  on  what  is  called  in  common  wheel- 
ing, the  standing  flank,  or  inner  flank. 

THJB   FIFTH   DRILL. 

As  soon  as  the  squad  can  march  and  wheel  with  correctness, 
the  firelock  is  introduced ;  and  the  manual  exercise  taught : 
this  is  very  soon  acquired  ;  but  the  greatest  attention  must  be 
bestowed  in  teaching  the  firing  motions  minutely,  exactly,  and 
frequently  :  every  act  that  must  be  performed  in  a  real  loading 
and  firing,  should  be  executed  with  studied  exactness,  counting 
each  motion  and  allowing  a  second  of  time  to  pass  between 
every  motion.  This  may  appear  tedious  at  first,  but  the  forma- 
tion of  the  habit  to  exactness  will  repay  the  pains  bestowed  on  it. 
THE    SIXTH    DRILL. 

After  direct  marching  aftd  wheeling  are  well  practised  in 
single  rank,  and  all  the  practicable  variety  of  movements  exe- 
cuted, which  example  and  ingenuity,  aided  by  patience  and 
good  temper,  can  contrive  and  employ,  to  give  the  rank  of  the 
drill  an  early  facility  in  evolutions,  and  a  sufficient  understand.- 
ing  of  them  ;  then  the  most  important  branch  of  modern  im- 
provements is  introduced. 

OBLIC^UE   MOVEMENTS. 

This  is  the  oblique  movement,  expressed  by  the  French  mi- 
litary writers  of  the  revolutionary  period,  under  the  name  of 
the  Line  of  Science  ;  in  the  latter  systems  ;  expressed  demi  a 
gauche,  half-left....z;n  quart  d'a-droit,  a  quarter  face  to  the  rightj 
or  a  quarter  face  to  the  left.  It  is  the  constant  method  of  aug- 
menting front,  and  reducing  the  front  of  platoons  or  sections, 
in  passing  the  defile  or  obstacle ;  it  is  the  nniform  method  of 
the  light  troops  ;  and  is  frequently  denominated  the  loose  otxier 
of  formation. 


28  FIRST  PRIxVCIPLES    OF 

This  principle  should  be  commenced  as  a  new  drill,  and  the 
men  should  be  so  informed  ;  the  direct,  or  perpendicular  move- 
ments, should  be  now  introduced  as  sparingly  as  possible,  and 
only  to  give  opportunities  for  practising  the  oblique  movements. 
They  should  commence  with  single  ranks,  and  half  facing  only; 
as  qwarter  facing  is,  for  a  single  man,  not  so  easily  distinguish- 
able ;  though,  when  extended  to  four  men  in  front  or  more,  it 
becomes  of  great  consequence  ;  so  that,  in  the  facing  of  single 
men»  half  facing  only  is  to  be  used  ;  half  and  quarter  facing 
come  into  use,  when  the  movements  in  sections  of  any  number 
beyond  two  men  are  required. 

The  objects  and  uses  of  this  improvement,  are  to  produce 
flexibility,  with  compactness,  order,  and  accuracy  ;  to  save  time 
in  performing  evolutions ;  to  shorten  the  space,  diminish  the 
labor,  and  prevent  unnecessary  fatigue ;  objects  which  call  for 
the  constant  care  of  a  judicious  officer  on  actual  service;  it  is 
not  to  save  time,  or  trouble,  or  fatigue,  on  the  parade  or  drill, 
but  to  be  able  to  execute  in  a  less  time  than  by  the  ordinary 
method,  the  same  and  better  evolutions.  The  detail  of  these 
oblique  movements,  must  be  first  commenced  with  lialf  facing 
to  the  right,  and  tlien  fronting.. ..half  facing  to  the  left,  and  then 
fronting. ...then  facing  to  the  right  direct,  and  half  facing  to  the 
left ;  which  will  bring  the  rank  into  the  same  position  as  when 
first  half  faced  to  the  right :  these  half  facings  sheuld  be  varied 
in  every  direction,  right  and  left,  front  and  rear.  Never  for- 
getting that  the  whole  of  these  facings  must  be  performed  with 
THOving  feetf  and  at  marked  time. 

The  French  discriminate  between  o^Z/yt^e  and  diagonal  move- 
ments ;  the  oblique  now  means  the  movement  of  each  individual 
upon  a  distinct  line ;  the  diagonal  movement  is  that  of  a  whole 
rank,  as  a  movement  by  echellon  of  companies  to  the  right  or 
left,  after  a  quarter  wheel  of  companies. 

The  principles  of  the  oblique  line,  or  line  of  science,  should 
next  be  extended  to  two  men  ;  the  rank  should  be  told  off  by 
the  voices  of  the  men. ...orzc,  tiuo....onef  two  ;  from  right  to  left ; 
and  the  men  should  be  informed,  that  in  half  wheeling  to  the 
righ^,  the  right  hand  men,  or  those  who  counted  one  in  each 
file,  are  to  be  the  pivots  ;  that  wheeling  half  to  the  right,  is 
only  the  extension  of  the  principle  of  half  facing  from  one  man 
to  two  men,  in  which  the  pivot  should  act  as  in  half  facing,  and 


MILITARY  DISCIPLINE.  29 

face  at  the  word  of  command  ;  while  the  second  man  of  each,  or 
those  who  counted  tnuo,  should  wait  for  the  word  of  execution^ 
and  step  out  at  one  pace,  inclining  his  face  to  the  right,  bring- 
ing up  his  right  foot  and  marking  time,  and  dressing  by  the 
pivot,  so  that  the  whole  rank  would  then  present  a  series  of 
double  files,  half  wheeled  to  the  right ;  they  might  then  be 
further  half  wheeled  to  the  light,  which  would  bring  them 
into  a  column  of  double  files,  the  right  in  front ;  they  might 
then  be  half  wheeled  to  the  left,  in  which  case,  the  men  who 
counted  /wo,  should  be  apprised  that  they  become  the  pivots 
and  must  half  face  at  the  word  of  covimand....2Lnd  are  again 
half  wheeled  to  the  left.  It  would  be  then  perceived,  whether 
they  had  wheeled  accurately,  or  not,  as  the  rank  would  be  well 
or  ill  dressed,  or  if  the  wheeling  was  well  or  ill  executed. 

These  principles  should  progress  to  three,  four,  five,  and 
up  to  ten  or  twelve  men  in  front  ;  half  faced  and  wheeled, 
upon  the  same  principles  ;  and  when  in  that  position,  half 
wheeled,  tUey  should  be  told,  that  they  were  then  in  the  posi- 
tion called  the  echellon,  a  word  which  signifies  steps  of  stairs, 
which  the  outline  of  their  formation  represents  ;  and  that  this 
order  of  the  echellon  is  susceptible  of  the  greatest  uses  and 
application  to  an  infinite  variety  of  modes  of  formation. 

In  this  position,  they  should  learn  that  movements  of  every 
kind  are  to  be  executed  by  the  time  of  the  ordinary  or  quick 
marching  pace ;  that  the  moving  flank,  or  guide,  of  every 
rank,  must  march  only  twenty-four  inches,  and  that  the  inter- 
mediary files  must  shorten  their  paces,  so  as  to  dress,  and 
always  dress  by  the  moving  flank,  touching  the  file  on  the 
side  upon  which  they  move,  and  looking  to  the  moving  flank  . 
that,  when  wheeling  upon  the  left,  the  left  hand  man  is  the 
pivot,  and  the  Jeft  arm  is  to  be  bent  so  as  never  to  lose  tlie 
touch  of  the  left  hand  man,  while  the  eye  is  turned  m  tl^e 
opposite  direction  upon  the  moving  flank  ;  so  that  the  touch 
being  always  kept,  without  too  much  pressure,  there  is  no 
danger  of  breaking  or  bellying  out  the  rank  on  that  side  ;  and 
by  looking  at  the  moving  flank,  and  never  advancing  beyond 
it,  but  shortening  the  pace  in  proportion  as  the  man  is  near 
the  pivot,  the  evolution  is  always  executed  with  exactness  and 
beauty. 


so  nilST  PRINCIPLES  OF 

These  elementary  principles,  so  far  well  tauglit,  and  under- 
stood in  their  application  to  the  theory,  all  the  supposed  com- 
plexity of  military  evolutions  and  mancEUvres  begins  to  disap- 
pear. The  principles  of  marching  thus  far  unravelled,  the 
application  which  succeeds  consists  only  of  modifications  of 
these  principles,  and  their  use  in  producing  combinations  of 
movements  adapted  to  numbers  ;  to  the  proposed  object  of  the 
movement ;  and  to  the  circumstances  of  the  ground. 
THE  SEVENTH  DRIXL. 

The  next  process  of  the  drill  will  be  that  of  carrying  into 
effectual  exercise,  the  same  direct  and  oblique  movements 
with  double  ranks  i  when  assembled  on  parade,  the  whole  drill 
forms  in  single  rank,  the  tallest  men  on  the  right.  The  com- 
mander of  the  drill,  or  an  assistant,  takes  care  that  the  forma- 
tion be  exact ;  and  as  soon  as  formed,  the  men  must  not  be 
permitted  to  remain  in  tliat  position  too  long. 

The  rank  which  is  thus  formed,  will  be  brought  to  ?nark  time^ 
and  by  the  wheeling  of  the  even  files  upon  the  right,  or  odd 
files,  and  countermarching  the  front  rank  or  even  files,  throw 
the  series  of  tallest  men  alternately  to  the  right  and  left.  To 
bring  the  whole  to  that  order  by  which  the  tallest  men  shall  be 
on  the  flanks  of  both  ranks,  and  those  of  the  rear  rank  taller 
than  those  of  the  front ;  this  method  must  be  pursued.  The 
files  tell  off  as  usual  by  the  voices  of  the  men....07ze,  two...,one^ 
^wo.,..the  number  of  files  being  found,  say  36  men  compose  the 
rank ;  the  officer  will  give  the  precautionary  information  and 
explain  the  object,  and  he  will  tell  them  that  the  18th  file  is  the 
left  of  the  first  or  right  section  of  the  rank,  and  that  the  odd 
files  of  that  section  will  be  the  pivots  ;  that  the  1 9th  to  the  30th 
iMe  form  the  second  section  of  the  rank,  and  that  the  even  files 
of  that  section  will  form  the  pivots ;  that  the  second  or  left 
section  will  wheel  upon  its  left  or  even  files  :  that  the  first  or 
right  section  will  wheel  upon  its  right  or  odd  files.  He  will 
then  give  the  words  of  precaution : 

MienXion, 

Take    care   to   form  double  files,  by  wheeling 
outward  from  the  centre. 

Mark  time. 

BoublefiU8..'{from  the  ccntre.^.outward  wheeJ. 


MILITARY   BISCIPLINE.  31 

They  are  then  brought  to  their  proper  distance  by  either  of 
t>vo  modes,  and  both  modes  should  be  practised.  The  first 
mode  is  by  the  words, 

Front  face*" 'hy  the  side  step  to  the  centre,  to  the  right, 
or,  to  the  left" •'incline. 

Or,  as  the  right  section  will  have  been  already  faced  to  tire 
right,  the  words  will  be  given.... 

Left  section  to  the  right  about"  "face. 
In  close  order*  "'Cover, 
Frontface. 

Should  it  be  more  eligible,  from  the  nature  of  the  position, 
that  the  formation  should  be  made  to  the  left,  then  the  right 
section  may  be  faced  to  the  right  about,  dressed,  closed,  and 
fronted  in  that  form.  They  are  thus  ranked  and  sized  by  evo- 
lution, a  method  preferable  to  the  common  mountebank  tricks 
by  which  men  are  made  to  skip  backward  and  forward,  and  to 
the  front  and  to  the  rear :  exercises  totally  unfit  for  soldiers, 
and  inconsistent  with  military  utility.  Nor  should  any  thing  be 
admitted  in  discipline,  which  is  ridiculous,  contrary  to  reason, 
or  without  utility. 

To  prepare  for  evolutions,  the  first  principles  of  the  drill,  for 
moving  in  sections,  countermarching,  and  wheeling  in  all  di- 
rections, and  several  sections,  each  section  in  different  direc 
tions,  will  be  commenced. 

THE    EIGHTH   DRIiL. 

This  drill  carries  into  effect  the  movements  direct  and  oblique 
for  the  whole  company ;  and  extends  the  practice  of  a  variety 
of  evolutions  in  single  and  double  ranks. 

Throughout  these  drills  it  may  be  perceived  that  the  move- 
ments are  progressive,  from  something  easy,  to  something  a 
little  different,  but  all  performed  upon  the  same  principles  ;  the 
officer  in  charge  of  the  drill  will  keep  in  mind,  that  though  the 
steps  of  instruction  are  progressive,  the  exercises  should  con- 
stantly vary  as  soon  as  a  little  progress  is  made,  so  that  the  at- 
tention be  always  kept  awake. 

And  it  must  be  kept  in  mind,  that  this  distribution  of  the  drill 
into  six  classes,  has  reference  only  to  the  stages  of  discipline, 
the  degrees  by  which  the  soldier  is  taught :  the  following  chap^ 
ters  are  divided  into  sections  for  the  purpose  of  reference 


32  FIRST  PKINCIPI.es  OF 


CHAP.  VI. 


THE  PRACTICAL  DRILL 


§  1.  After  the  drums  have  beaten,  and  the  hour  appoint- 
ed  for  parade  has  arrived,  the  officer  who  has  charge  of  the  drill, 
attended  by  one  or  two  non-commissioned  officers,  having  come 
upon  the  ground ;  the  officer  either  gives  the  word  to  fall  in 
....or  it  is  executed  at  the  beat  of  the  drum. 

The  recruit  should  not  be  put  under  restraint.. ..he  should 
stand  in  the  easiest  position  for  himself,  with  his  feet  neither 
too  near  nor  too  distant,  his  whole  weight  balancing  on  the  balls 
of  his  feet,  and  without  pressing  upon  his  heels,  his  eyes  to  the 
front,  and  face  erect ;  his  hands  suspended  without  restraint  or 
stiffness  by  his  side,  without  being  pressed  too  close,  or  fingers 
extended  on  his  thighs  :  the  palms  of  his  hands  in  the  direction 
of  his  thighs,  so  that  the  middle  fingers  may  fall  about  the  seams 
of  his  pantaloons,  his  body  equally  presented  to  the  front ;  his 
knees  straight  but  not  stiff,  and  his  shoulders  neither  thrown  too 
much  back,  nor  raised  by  constraining  the  arms,  nor  pressed 
forward  ;  but  so  easy  that  the  respiration  be  perfectly  free. 

The  rule  of  the  drill  should  be,  that  the  whole  form  one  rank, 
the  tallest  men  take  their  ground  on  the  right,  and  so  in  succes- 
sion to  the  left.  One  or  two  non-commissioned  officers  go  to 
the  rear  and  correct  any  errors  which  the  men  may  themselves 
make  on  falling  in,  this  operation  is  called  sizing;  to  bring 
them  to  the  proper  position  for  exercise,  the  tallest  men  must 
be  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  rank,  and  the  smallest  successive- 
ly to  the  centre.  There  are  various  methods  of  sizing,  but  that 
which  is  executed  with  greatest  celerity,  and  in  the  manner 
best  adapted  to  familiarise  the  men  with  military  movementSj 
is  to  be  preferred.  To  effect  this,  therefore,  the  following  words 
of  command  are  given,  and  they  are  executed  according  to  the 
method  here  prescribed. 


MILITARY   DISCIPIINE.  3S 

The  officer  of  the  drill  having  taken  his  position  from  ten  to 
twenty  paces  in  front,  and  faced  towards  the  rank,  which  is  now 
supposed  to  stand  with  the  tallest  men  on  the  right  :  he  gives 
the  general  precautionary  word  : 

Attention, 

On  this  word  the  whole  rank  stand  erect,  with  their  eyes 
throWH  to  the  front,  without  any  motion  or  noise. ...in  this  posi- 
tion : 

II 

H  §§  ft  f 1 9t  ft  it  §§  §§  ti  if  i^  §§  ff  §®  §1  §§  ft  ft 

The  officer  who  has  charge  of  the  drill  will  then  give  his 
precautionary  instructions  to  the  following  effect : 

The  squad  is  now  so  formed  that  the  tallest  men  are  on  the 
rights  and  the  smallest  on  the  left  f  it  is  next  to  be  disfiosed  so 
that  the  tallest  men  shall  be  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  rank^  and 
the  lowest  men  in  the  centre. 

This  is  to  be  done  by  ranking  and  sizing.  To  effect  this  the 
rank  will  be  told  off  in  odd  and  even  files^  by  the  right  hand?nan 
calling  out  one,  the  second  man  two,  and  the  third  man  onEj  the 
fourth  man  two  ;  and  continued  to  the  left^  so  that  the  whole  shall 
consist  of  files  one  and  two,  or  odd  and  even  files,  when  they  er.e 
told  off  from  right  te  left. 

The   squAD  will  take   care  to   tell  o?f  by  dou» 

BLE  FILES. 

Tell  off. 

The  first  man  tells  one,  the  second  two,  and  so  on  to  the  leftj 
in  the  following  order  : 

P4}OoO«OaiOCJOd>0(UOai04)Oa> 

ft  If  It  It  ft  ft  It  It  ft  ft  %^  It  ft  It  ft  II  h  t§  ft  ft 

The  company  (platoon  or  squad  J  are  next  tofor?n  double  files 
faced  to  the  right  ;  the  front  rank  will  then  be  faced  to  the  right 
about  and  countermarched  upon  the  left  of  the  rear  rank  ;  while 
the  files  composing  the  rank  who  have  called  one^fnove  up  to  the 
right  hand  fie,  still  facing  to  the  right. 

But  in  this  instance,  as  in  all  others,  when  movements  are  to 
be  made,  every  movemjent  must  be  preceded  by  the  order  to 
mark  time. 


34  riRST  PRINCIPLES  Ot 

This  operation  consists  of  an  alternate  raising  of  the  feet. 
The  left  foot  h  raised  about  four  inches  from  the  ground  slow- 
ly,  and  brought  down  quick,  and  the  right  raised  to  the  same 
height  as  the  left,  strikes  the  ground  ;  thus  alternately,  striking 
the  ground  in  given  times  ;  whence  it  is  called  marking  timej 
and  the  ofhcer  of  the  drill  will  count  with  the  rising  of  the  left 
foot,  one^  iwo....one,  two. ...one,  riyo. ...until  he  thinks  the  ear  and 
the  feet  of  the  men  have  found  an  agreement  in  the  time. 

When  he  has  succeeded  in  this,  he  gives  the  precautionary 
instruction  : 

Take  care  to  form    double  files,   wheeling  by 
your  right  on  the  odd  files. 

The  odd  files  on  the  j^rst  ivorcl  will  face  to  the  right. 
The  second  or  even  files  will  wait  for  the  second  word. 

The  whole  will  take  care  to  mark  time. 
Mark  thne.„.onej  two,.,,one)  two. 
Might,  „wheel. 

The  squad  will  present  the  following  positions  on  the  firsv 

word. ...RIGHT.... 

21212121212121212121 
df  $  f  t  S  f §  iS  §§  ^  if  S  if  S  f  I  3  f§  S  t§  $  f §  S 
On   the    second  word. ..."zy^ct'/... .the  squad    will  present  the 
•bllowing  disposition  : 

^to  ^feO  ^to  Igto  Uto   ^bO  «§to  "^^  S^o  ^bO 

The  even  files  now  form  the  front  rank,  and  it  being  the  ob- 
ject to  bring  them  all  into  one  rank,  the  front  rank  must  be 
countermarched, by  the  following  words: 

Even  files. ., .right  tthouU...face. 
Upon  tlie  left  countermarch, ...march. 

They  will  then  move,  and  exhibit  the  following  movetnent : 
3  3  3S:3  3SS33S:(S 


MILITARY   DISCIPLINE.  SB 

The  odd  files  here  move  into  close  order  on  the  front  file, 
the  even  files  countermarch  on  the  left  of  the  odd  files. 

The  tallest  men  are  on  the  right,  and  so  diminishing  in 
height  from  right  to  left,  by  taking  each  alternate,  or  every 
second  man,  and  carrying  them  in  progression  to  the  left,  tUe 
tallest  man  is  thus  placed  on  the  right,  the  next  tallest  on  the 
left,  and  so  diminishing  to  the  centre. 

The  officer  will  now  give  the  precautionary  instruction  to 
form  and  cover  well ;  and  as  they  are  to  form  a  rank  faced  to 
the  front. ...he  will  then  give  the  word  : 

Cover. 

By  this  word  is  intended  that  the  men  in  succession  from 
the  head  of  the  rank,  should  cover  the  space  from  the  first  to 
the  last  man  in  a  direct  line  ;  each  man  looking  directly  at  the 
back  of  the  head  of  the  man  before  him.  It  must  be  kept  in 
mind,  that  the  whole  of  this  drill  must  be  performed  at  ^narked 
time,  and  that  attention  must  be  constantly  paid  to  this,  and  na 
motion  begun  until  the  time  be  well  kept  in  the  motion  that  ha^t 
been  last  ordered. 

The  officer  will  then  give  the  word  : 

Frontface. 

19  f§  f§  f§  ft  ft  ft  §1  It  ft  ft  ft  it  id  f§  it  f§  §§  It  ii 

The  whole  having  assumed  this  position,  without  any  move^ 
ment  of  the  head,  now  look  to  the  rij^ht,  and  dress  by  the  right 
iiand  man. 

This  being  accomplished  in  the  first  few  drills,  it  may  be 
proper  to  accustom  them  to  cease  moving  their  feet,  in  order 
to  bring  them  to  a  correct  movement  from  the  first  step  to- 
gether ;  this  is  done  by  the  word 

Halt. 

§2.  But  after  a  few  drills,  there  should  be  no  halt,  until  a 
considerable  number  of  marches  or  evolutions  shall  have  been 
executed. 

The  first  movement,  after  being  thus  halted  in  the  first  dnlU, 
1$  again  signified  by  the  word  of  precaution. 


36  IPIRST   PIlINCItLBS   O* 

Mention, 

Take  care  to  face  to  the  right. 

This  is  simply  intimating  what  is  intended  to  be  done  ;  the 
recruit  must  be  told  that  he  is  not  to  execute  this  command, 
until  he  hears  the  word /«ce,  that  there  will  be  a  pause  between 
the  words  ?7^A?....and/acc,  but  that,  until  the  word  face  be  ut^ 
tcred,  the  position  mu^t  not  be  altered. 

Mark  time* 

The  feet,  beginning  with  the  left,  nre  alternately  lifted  at  o;2f, 
:nvo....one^  two. 

Right.„»face. 

On  the  word  face^  the  left  foot  is  lifted  briskly,  and  the  toe 
of  that  foot  turned  in  a  short  curved  step  towards  the  right  side  j 
the  right  foot  is  briskly  turned  in  the  same  direction,  and  the 
body  comes  round  with  the  direction  of  the  right  at  the  third 
short  stroke  of  the  left  foot ;  when  the  rank  will  stand  in  Indian 
file,  in  the  following  position  ;  and  if  the  rank  be  not  exactly 
straight,  the  officer  will  give  the  ^vovd. .. .dress. ...ov 

Cover. 

The  next  movement,  is  the  same  word  of  command,  rig'/ii 
Jitce,  repeated,  intended  to  bring  the  rank  with  their  faces  to  the 
rear.  Care  is  to  be  taken  that  they  mark  time  correctly  ;  and 
they  must  be  apprized,  that  the  turning  commences  with  the 
left  foot,  and  that  the  word  right,  is  not  to  be  the  signal  for 
facing,  but  the  word  which  follows  it. ...that  the  first  word  com- 
Viands  or  tells  what  is  to  be  done  ;  and  the  second  word  is  the 
word  of  execw^fon... .the  word  is  then  given,  and  they  present 
the  following  position  : 

Biglufact. 
19  H  H  II  H  II  H  91  99  H  II  H  H  i«  11  M  l«  l«  fill 

They  are  kept  at  marked  time,  and  dressed  in  this  position , 
that  is,  faced  to  the  rear  from  their  first  position  ;  they  ar*- 
again  faced  to  the  right,  and  present  this  position  : 


MIXITART  DISCIPXISfE.  37 

Miglitface. 

They  will  be  exercised  in  the  same  manner  in  facing  to  the 
fro7itj  when  they  may,  instead  of  the  word  right  face,  receive 
the  VI  ovd  front  face  ;  by  which  they  will  be  placed  in  their  first 
position ;  and  they  will  then  be  faced  to  the  left  in  like  manner 
three  successive  times,  by  which  they  gain  their  first  position 
faced  to  the  front. 

§  3.  The  facings  must  be  repeated  frequently,  and  the  officer 
of  the  drill  will  find  his  labor  in  the  progress  much  easier,  if  he 
will  not  be  sparing  of  pains  in  these  first  facings :  after  they 
have  faced  to  the  right  several  times  successively,  and  executed 
it  well,  they  are  to  be  faced  to  the  left  until  they  face  together 
at  the  word ;  they  should  be  then  faced  to  right  and  left  alter- 
nately and  ©ften  ;  and  only  then  they  should  proceed  to 

Mghi  dbout,„^ace. 

This  consists  in  carrying  the  body  round  by  its  right  side,  to 
the  opposite  position,  or  about.  The  men  must  be  told  that 
they  must  not  attempt  to  move  about  until  the  word  yace  is 
given,  nor  to  move  like  a  block  upon  an  axis  ;  they  must  use 
their  legs ;  then  the  left  foot  is  raised  and  takes  a  larger  course 
than  in  simple  facing  ;  the  right  foot  turns  in  the  same  direc- 
tion, and  the  third  step  or  the  second  stroke  of  the  left  foot  is 
made  when  the  body  is  faced  exactly  right  about.. ..it  must  be 
executed  in  three  steps. ...and  the  drill  officer,  if  the  facing  is 
not  well  executed,  must  bring  them  repeatedly  about. ...telling 
97ie,  two,  three. ..,one^  two,  three. ...these  numbers  answering  to 
the  first  step  with  the  left,  the  second  with  the  right,  and  the 
third  with  the  left.  They  may  be  occasionally  exercised  in 
simple  facing  right  and  left,  and  right  and  left  about,  for  the 
purpose  of  accustoming  them  to  wait  for  the  word;  as  recruits 
are  too  apt  to  be  confused,  and  especially  when  discouraged  by 
ill  nature  or  morosenessin  the  officer,  they  become  eager  to  do 
their  duty,  and  in  their  confusion  mistake  the  side  tg  which 
they  are  to  form  :  patience  and  a  little  good  humored  raillery, 
which  will  excite  pride  and  not  contempt,  sooner  correct  these 


3S  riBST  PRIiVeiPLES   OB 

errors  than  any  other  mocle....strikin{^  a  soldier  on  parade  or  any 
where  else  is  execrable-. -a  man  who  is  an  officer  in  his  soul 
will  never  strike  a  man  who  he  knows  dare  not  return  the  blow 
but  on  pain  of  disgrace  or  death. 

§  4.  After  the  facings  are  gone  through,  the  habit  oimarkhii^ 
time  must  be  presumed  to  be  tolerably  well  acquired  ;  and  the 
squad  is  prepared  to  commence  the  most  important  part  of  all 
the  military  exercise  ;  that  is,  marching. 

The  officer  of  the  drill  commences  with  the  precaution  : 

Mention, 

The  squad  will  take  care  to  march  in  single  file? 
by  the  right. 

He  will  then  explain  to  them  the  meaning  of  the  word  file 
that  it  means  one  man  when  there  is  only  one  rank ;  when  two 
ranks,  the  files  are  double  ;  and  that  a  file  consists  in  any  num- 
ber of  men  behind  each  other,  so  that  if  the  ranks  were  eight 
deep,  the  number  of  files  would  be  no  more  than  the  numbers 
of  the  front  rank  ;  he  will  then  make  them  acqwainted  with 
the  lengtli  of  the  pace  ;  that  every  step  taken  must  be  exactly 
9A  inches,  or  two  feet  from  heel  to  heel;  and  that  this  must 
be  the  length  of  the  step  at  all  times,  whether  moving  fast  or 
slow  ;  every  man  must  step  two  feet  ;!ind  no  more.  He  will 
then  give  the  word  : 

Illght„„face. 

The  whole  will  then  be  faced  in  single  file  to  the  right,  as  iii 
the  second  position  ;  and  having  marched  in  that  direction 
equal  paces  and  in  equal  times,  as  far  as  is  convenient,  they 
receive  the  word  : 

Right,,. wheel. 

They  then  appear  in  the  following  position  : 


s^ll 


II 

n 


MILITARY  DISCIPXI>E.  39 

An  important  part  of  instruction  commences  wiih  the  wheel- 
ing to  the  right.  The  difference  between  /adw^-and  nvheeli7igi% 
to  be  explained  ;  thaty«cf«^  always  applies  to  each  individual ; 
ivheeling  always  to  more  than  a  single  individual ;  or  that  in 
facing  every  man  turns  on  his  own  centre  ;  in  wheeling  every 
man  moves  as  if  he  composed  a  common  mass  with  the  rest  of 
the  rank  ;  that  several  wheel,  and  several  face,  but  one  only 
never  wheels  alone,  unless  a  rank  is  marching  in  single  files, 
when  it  implies  that  every  file  which  follows  must  wheel  in  the 
same  direction  :  if  the  word  of  command  be  risht.,..face^  every 
man  must  face  to  the  right,  and  it  would  then  be  a  rank  faced 
lo  the  right ;  but  in  wheeling  to  the  right,  the  direction  that  the 
leading  file  takes,  the  whole  of  the  files  take. 

The  squad  is  wheeled  several  times  by  the  right,  and  ai 
length  into  its  first  position  and  faced  to  the  front ;  and  then  it 
is  faced  to  the  other  flank  and  wheeled  to  the  left  in  the  follow- 
ing form  : 


w/^ 


n 

if 

68 

19 

The  squad  being  marched  and  wheckd  by  the  left,  returns  to 
its  original  position,  and  is  faced  to  the  front  as  before :  the 
drill  now  requires  to  mix  the  movements,  by  facing  and  wheel- 
ing in  different  directions.  The  words  are  given  with  an  inter- 
val....which  produce  the  following  disposition  : 

§1 

n 
ft 
ft 
ft 


4bO  FIRST   PRINCIPLES    OF 

The  squad  having  now  been  faced  and  wheeled  in  difFerenl 
directions  ;  the  drill  officer  will  caution  the  men  to  attend  parti- 
cularly to  his  word  of  command,  that  it  is  his  intention  to  take 
them  by  surprise,  and  face  them  to  the  right  or  left  when  they 
may  not  expect  it :  and  he  uses  his  discretion  in  this,  frequent^ 
ly  facing  them  in  different  directions,  and  marching  them  into 
their  first  position  in  single  rank. 

He  then  changes  his  flank,  and  commences  the  opposite  dis- 
position, with 


Ijeft'-*-face. 
Riglit'»-'jvlieel» 


ft 
§» 
ft 
ft 


If  \^ 


The  company  is  now  marched  int«  the  first  position,  and  re- 
ceive the  words, 

Hatt....resf. 

When  they  have  been  well  exercised  in  these  facings  and 
wheelings,  they  will  have  learned  to  mark  time  with  accuracy.... 
the  whole  rank  giving  but  one  sound  with  their  feet.. ..they  will 
have  learned  to  face  in  three  short  curved  steps,  and  to  face  to 
the  ri^he  about  in  three  long  curved  steps.  They  will  have 
their  ears  habituated  to  wait  for  the  word  of  execution  :  if  they 
have  not  acquired  these  habits,  the  fault  must  be  in  the  officer 
who  teaches.  It  is  impossible,  if  well  taught,  that  these  effects 
are  not  produced. 

When  the  word  rest  is  given,  it  always  signifies  that  the  men 
may  stand  without  constraint,  but  on  their  ground,  from  which 
they  must  never  move  without  permission.  As  a  rule  for  rest 
in  ranks,  the  left  foot  should  retain  its  position  where  the  rank 
halted;  and  the  right  might  be  easily  withdrawn  and  the  knees 
easily  bent,  so  as  that  the  limbs  may  be  at  ease,  and  thereby 
refreshed  by  a  relaxation  from  the  disciplinary  position. 


^ 


MILITARY  DISClBLlIf  je.  *1 

CHAP.  ni. 


ELEMENTS  OF  EVOLUTION. 

§1.  It  now  becomes  time  to  divide  the  rank  and  to  make 
preparation  for  a  prompt  execution  by  different  parts  of  the  same 
company  or  squad  at  one  common  command  ;  or,  that  the  rank 
in  two  distinct  divisions  shall  perform  the  similar  operations  at 
the  same  time,  by  one  word. 

The  "use  of  guides  must  be  attended  to  in  this  stage  of  the 
exercises  with  great  diligence  and  attention  to  exactness  ;  ex- 
planation must  not  be  spared.. .non-commissioned  officers,  or 
other  well  disciplined  men,  must  be  directed  to  post  themselves 
$t  the  points  of  wheeling  and  formation  of  every  section  ;  and 
to  take  their  stations,  so  that  each  shall  be  in  front  of  the  secticfli 
which  is  to  dress  by  them,  facing  to  the  distant  flank  of  the 
section  ;  and  the  flank  man  of  the  section  forming,  faced  to  the 
side  of  the  guide. 

The  uses  of  the  simple  but  invaluable  contrivance  of  tellinsj 
off,  are  further  developed  in  this  drill ;  the  men  themselves 
must  be  accustomed  to  do,  what  by  the  old  method  was  done 
by  a  non-commissioned  officer.  This  will  be  found,  in  the  pro- 
gress of  the  drill  and  of  the  more  enlarged  movements  of  bat- 
talion, of  the  greatest  importance,  as  it  will  at  length  become  a 
hat)it  in  the  minds  of  the  men  to  know  their  number  and  place 
in  the  rank,  and  they  will  with  ease  be  capable  of  executing 
formations  on  any  front,  without  repeated  telling  off,  or  any 
other  direction  than  the  general  word  of  commmul.  The  offij 
cer  will  give  the  word, 
JLttention, 

And  he  will  follow  it  by  the  precautionary  information  of 
such  movements  as  are  proposed  to  be  executed. 

The   company  will  tell  off  its  number  of  file: 
from  right  to  left, 
Tell  off. 


#  I  s  I  i  §  I  §  ^"  5    .  -^  cT      .  ^> 

i  J  §  M  1 1 1 1  ^  5 1 1'  ^  -:  I  1 1  s  i 
If  II  ft  §f  §1 1^  it  ft  it  §t  n  n  n  n  nmnmmn 

G 


^'2.  FIRST  PRIXCIPI.es  OF 

The  officer  then  states,  as  precautionary  : 
TJiere  arc  twenty  Jil"s^  which  form  Ivjo  scctvms. 

Ao.  1  z.v  the  rights  Ac,  10  left  of  the  first  sectiov, 
J^o.  1  1  is  the  righJ^  Ao.  2.)  the  left  of  the  second  section.' 
The  two  sections  will  now  take  care  to  cxccu'e  the  same  tnevc" 
ments  by  one  word  rf  command. 

The  whole. „.mavk  time. 
The  whole  raise  the  left  foot  gently  about  four  inches  from 
the  ground  together,  strike  it  briskly  to  the  ground  together  ; 
raising  the  right  foot  and  striking  it  also,  and  so  each  foot  alter- 
nately, which  they  must  on  all  occasions  continue  to  do  until 
they  receive  the  word  halt.  The  officer  will,  to  give  them  the 
time,  tell  constantly,  until  they  are  well  drilled  to  time....o«e, 
two, ...one,  two.     The  officer  will  then  give  the  precaution  : 

The  whole  will  take  care  to  face  to  the  right 

AND     TO    WHEEL    TO   THE   RIGHT    (orrcavj    BY   HEADS 
OF  SECTIONS. 

The  tvhole„.,rightfacc. 
By  heads  of  sections,.,. right  wheel. 
This  presents  the  first  position,  of  single  files,  and  the  first 
movement  in  broken  lanks. 

U  M 

The  sections  are  now  marched  and  wheeled  to  the  right,  and 
again  brought  to  their  first  ground  and  fronted  ;  when  they  re- 
ceive the  precaution, 

The  whole   will  iakk  care  to  face  to  the  left, 

AND  WHEEL   TO   THE  LEFT. 

The  wholc„„left„..face. 
Heads  of  seclions„..lfft„„wheel. 

H  H 

M  19 

The  whole  being  repeatedly  wheeled  by  the  left,  and  brought 
into  their  first  position  in  single  rank,  will  proceed  to  move- 
ments on  tVie  centre. 


MILITARY    DISCIPLINE.  43 

§2.  The  squad  will  now  proceed  to  execute  the  facings  in- 
ward from  the  flanks,  and  movements  by  the  centre. 

The  sections  will  take  care  to  face  inward  for 
to  the  centre)  and  advancz  in  double  files  to  the 

FRONT. 

This  operation  w  II  be  performed  by  the  right  section  facing 
to  the  left,  and  the  left  facing  to  the  right,  and  the  Ic't  man  of 
the  right  section,  and  the  right  man  of  the  left  section,  facing 
to  the  front... 

These  two  centre  men  form  the  pivots  in  this  motion,  and 
attending  to  precautionary  words,  advance  in  double  files  from 
the  centre  to  the  front  j  they  should  remain  faced  tc  the  frontj 
when  the  following  command  is  given  : 

Sectious„..io  the  centre.„Jnward.,..facp, 
From  ti  e  centre.... double Jiks,..^ 
To  the  front  iv  heel.;. march. 

mm 

m  ft 
M  m 

^J  ft  ft  v^ 

The  next  command  brings  this  column  of  double  files  faced 
to  the  right  about,  and  then  marches  to  the  same  ground  they 
•had  left,  on  the  ioliowing  words  of  precau  ion  and  command  : 

The  whole.... right  ah  out.. ..face. 
Heads  of  sections... .outivard....wheel. 

Hi! 

urn 

^  mB>  ^  ^  msi  <m  <*£si  ^  '^1  m>  i^  ^  m>  ^  ^  'aa»  ^  c^ 

The  whole  will  resume  the  first  posit  on  cii  rca.hing  the 
ground,  on  the  word, 

Marli  timc....f rant  face.. ..halt. 
The  teacher  of  the  drdl  may  require  to  be  here  again  re- 
minded, that  though  the  course  of  movements,  or  the  different 


4*  FIRST   PRINCIPLES    OP 

forms,  are  progressive,  he  must  in  his  practice  resort  frequently 
to  those  movements  already  taught,  so  as  indeed  to  keep  the 
-word  of  command  and  the  manner  of  evolution  constantly  pre- 
sent to  the  memory,  until  they  become  a  habit ^  until  the  language 
of  the  exercise  and  the  mode  of  movement  in  exercise  become 
predominant  over  every  other  mode  of  expression  and  habit. 


§  3.  The  next  movement  will  be  from  the  outward  flanks  oT 
the  two  sections  by  opposite  motions  to  the  rear,  then  moving 
in  directions  parallel  to  their  original  front ;  gaining  their  first 
ground  by  facing  to  the  right  about,  and  each  resuming  iis  for- 
mer position  by  corresponding  wheels. 

The  whole., ..mark  time. 

From  the  eentre,,., right  and  left  outward,,,. face. 

Heads  of  sections „„to  the  rear„„wheel. 

The  right  i^ectlon  here  faces  and  wheels  to  the  right. ...the 
left,  to  the  left. 

II  n 

By  angther  word, 
Inward„„whe€L 

4D«»«»<!to  «m  fm>  im  ?» 

40    40    4B>    40  Sl^    <l^    Vt^    ^0 

9§  II 

IISSS3SS  SSSSSSH 

They  move  towards  each  other,  where  they  may  be  dressed 
and  fronted,  or  made  to  execute  any  of  the  former  movements 
a;^  the  discretion  of  the  officer.  When  in  order  to  be  brought 
to  their  first  position,  they  are  faced  from  the  ripr/it  about  and 
■vOheeled  again  into  their  first  position. 

Marli  time,,,. 

The  7vhole„„rigJit  alout,„.face. 

Heads  of  sections.*., front  wheel. 


MILITART   DISCIPLINE.  f^ 

n  ^ 

These  movements  should  be  followed  by  countermarching: 
which  means  only  the  act  of  the  two  extremes  of  the  same  rank 
changing  places  by  military  marching. 


§  4.  The  practice  of  countermarches  in  drill  may  be  employ- 
ed to  the  greatest  advantage  in  fixing  the  exactness  of  /zwzf,  and 
the  length  of  the  fiace  ;  in  habituating  the  men  to  wheeling 
without  confusion  in  the  midst  of  varied  movements  and  ranks, 
each  file  always  attending  to  its  distance  and  the  evolution  in 
Avhich  each  is  particularly  engaged,  and  not  attending  to  th^? 
movement  of  others. 

The  rank  is  now  supposed  to  be  divided  at  the  centre,  and 
the  object  in  view  is  so  to  march  them  that  the  files  on  the 
right  shall  be  brought  to  the  left ;  and  those  on  the  left  brought 
to  the  right.  Being  in  one  rank  and  faced  outward,  if  they 
both  wheel  about  on  the  same  line,  they  must  meet,  and  canr 
not  pass  each  other  without  deviating  from  a  direct  line ;  it 
must  be  so  ordered  that  the  sections  move  one  by  the  front  and 
the  other  by  the  rear ;  this  will  be  accomplished  by  the  fol  • 
lb  wing  precaution  and  commands : 

Mteniion, 

The  sections  will  take  care  to  countermarch 

UPON    their    present    GitOUND,     AND    FORM,   FACED 
TO    THE    REAR. 

Sections. .  „outivard  face. 

Heads  of  sections.... right  about. ...wheel. 

Co  untermarch..  ..march . 

They  will  then  move  in  this  form : 

Bs  ^S  SiV  > 

9  ^  ^  ^  ^  <^  <99  «9  «»  em  ^  Q»  si»  «9  <i?**  *3i9>  «a>  ia»> 

1,   r^  <Sa  Siit 
^   ^^   •489  9v 

When  they  have  so  marched  as  that  the  rear  of  each  section 
covers,  in  this  form : 


^6  FIRST  PRINCIPLES    O* 

They  receive  the  word  of  command  : 

Mark  time. 
Rearface.,„dress,..,halt. 

The  company  is  then  brought  by  the  right  about  face,  to  its 
former  position,  dressed  and  halted  ;  and  is  informed  that  it  is 
intended  to  take  a  position  to  the  rear  of  the  present  ground 
twenty  paces,  faced  to  the  rear,  and  that  this  will  be  executed 
by  countermarching. 

*9.ttention. 

Take    care  to    take  post    in  the   rear  twenty 

PACES,  BY  A  countermarch  FROM  THE  FLANKS. 

SecUons„..outward  face. 

Rear  wheel. 
Inward.... wJieel. 

Rear....face. 
Mark  time. 

Right  aho2it....face...,dress....haU^ 

If  M 

II  H  li  H  91  II 11  H  if  m  H  «i  H  91 1«  91  ii  H 

The  company  is  brought  to  the  right  about  and  halted. 
There  will  be  only  two  more  movements  of  countermarch  here 
specified  ;  the  officer  of  the  drill,  preserving  the  main  princi- 
ples of  cadence^  length  of  pace^  wheeling  upon  pivots,  cannot 
vary  his  exercises  of  countermarching  too  much  ;  he  may 
form  squares,  orbs,  and  other  figures,  by  wheeling  round,  any 
number  of  a  section,  and  facing  the  whole  to  the  right  about, 


MIHTART  DISCIPLINE.  47 

unfold  the  figure,  and  display  his  rank  ;  it  is  a  ^reat  object  in 
discipline  to  render  exercises  amusing  to  the  men  ;  exercise  be- 
comes then  a  recreation  which  never  tires,  and  by  which  disci- 
pline is  better  established  than  by  cruelty  and  abuse,  or  ungene- 
rous treatment.     Precautionary ; 

*lttcniion. 

Take  care  to  countermarch  from  the  centre  by 
the  flanks  to  the  front,  and  advance  to  th« 

FRONT  BY  DOUBLE  FILES. 

Mark  time. 

Sections., .,inght  and  left  outward.„.facc. 
Heads  of  sections,.,. front,.,xount€rmarc1u 
Bouhle  files. „.front  wheel. 


^  Its 


The  next  movement  in  countermarching  is  more  complex, 
and  is  one  of  those  which  is  well  adapted  to  ensure  exactness 
in  wheeling  movements.  It  is  performed  by  the  following 
precautions  and  words  of  command  : 

^        Take   care  to  countermarch  by  the  centre  to 

THE  rear. 

Sections.,., to  the  centre,,., face. 

By  double  files. ...from  the  centre  to  the  rear  wheeL 

March. 
Outward  wheel. 

Outward  whetl^ 


l^u 


i8  JflRST  miNCIPLES    ©F 


^•N  if  IS  li  11^ 

^'^tf  1$  11  §§''^ 

f  f  ill®  ft 

^  ii  II  s 

\zS    iliJ 

The  double  files  irom  the  centre  having  rcth'ed  a  few  files,, 
'chey  are  countermarched  outward  twice  successively,  which 
brings  them  to  iheir  first  ground,  upon  which  they  receive  the 
word, 

Front. ,.»face,„Jialt. 

These  drills  will  have  prepared  the  men  for  the  next  stage  of 
the  drill,  that  of  forming  larger  sections. 


§  5.  The  next  progression  of  formation  will  be  into  files  of 
three,  or  sections  of  three,  or  three  in  front. ...and  here  we  find 
the  use  of  having  explained  our  terms  in  Chap.  IV, 

Those  explanations  will  lead  us  up  with  more  perspicuity  to 
the  method  of  formation  of  the  order  of  three  in  depth,  which 
will  pursue  the  same  principles,  but  apply  them  to  accomplish 
other  useful  ends  at  the  same  time. 

A  single  rank  being  formed  as  usual,  it  will  be  required  to 
tell  off  by  sections  of  three  from  right  to  left ;  and  the  move- 
ments of  the  sections  will  now  be  so  ordered,  that  by  the  advance 
of  the  first  section  of  three  from  its  ground,  and  an  immediate 
wheel  of  the  section  upon  its  left,  the  successive  sections  will  be 
taken  up  in  their  proper  places,  as  the  preceding,  sections  pro- 
ceeded along  the  front.  By  this  means  steadiness  is  obtained  in 
the  rank,  distance  is  easier  preserved,  and  when  the  whole  have 
formed  into  the  column  of  sections  of  three,  wdieelings  in  that 
order  may  be  practised,  and  the  accuracy  of  the  pace  tested  by 
every  wheel  of  section,  and  corrected  with  the  most  careful  ex- 
actness. At'cntion  to  exactness  at  this  period  saves  a  great 
deal  of  trouble,  and  expedites  discipline  beyond  belief. 

Pl^ECAUTlONS. 


MILITARY  DISCIPLINE.  49 

The  companij  ivill  proceed  to  move  by  sections  of  three; 
they  will  tell  o^  by  threes  from  right  to  left;  the  left  hand 
?nan,  or  file  who  tells  three,  will  be  the  pivot  of  each  sec- 
tion of  three,  wheeling'  on  the  left;  should  the  company 
xuheel  on  the  right  in  sections  ofthree^  tjie  right  hand  man 
of  each  section  will  be  the  pivot. 

•Ittention, 

Sections  of  three,.. Ml  off. 

The  officer  will  see  that  "no  file  misses  nor  repieats  the  num- 
ber, and  that  it  be  owe,  two^  three^  from  right  to  left.... the  right 
Irand  man  saying  one,  £^c. 

3     2     13      2      13      2      13     2     13     2      13    2     1 

if  If  it  §f  §1  If  it  if  f t  it  §t  if  it  if  if  §f  ft  If 

Take  care  to  advance  fkom  the  right  by  sections 
of  three. ...wheeling  by  the  left  on  the  front 
of  the  company. 

Company.,,. mark  time. 
By  sections  of  three.... from  the  right. 

Fortvard.,.. march. 
Left....wheel. 

At  the  word  march,  the  first  section  step^s  out  with  the  left 
foot,  and  continues  to  mark  time  in  that  direction,  until  the  word 
left  is  given,  ut  which  word,  the  left  hand  man,  who  is  the  pivot 
of  the  section,  faces  to  the  left,  and  marks  time,  until  the  word 
wheel  is  given,  when  the  other  two  men  step  off',  and  wheel 
upon  their  pivot. ...and  the  section  steps /orwart/ at  the  word, 
and  so  each  section  of  three  in  succession. 

^  ^321^ 

*  ^  ft  f  I  ff 

If  if  If  if  ft  If  it  If  if  If  if  if  if  ft  It 

The  same  course  of  movements  is  now  to  be  pursued,  a's  in 
the  first  drills  of  single  files ;  and  the  wheelings  are  to  be 
executed  upon  the  same  princijies,  from  the  left  flank  to  th<'. 

n 


50  tIEST   PRINCIPLES   i}E 

front  and  rear.  The  first  formation  of  the  rank  by  retl^ucing 
the  column  is  made  by  left  wheelings  from  the  preceding  posi- 
tionj  as  exemplified  in  the  following  figure ;  the  company  being 
▼heeled  to  its  first  position,  so  that  the  left  files  shall  stand  on 
the  ground  from  which  they  first  moved.  They  receive  the 
precaution, 

Take  care  to  form  front,  by  wke^ling  on  the  left 
OF  sections. 

Mark  time. 

Sections, . .  .left, . .  .wheel. 


If  •  •  f§  •  •  ft '  •  ft  •  •  if  •  •  it  •  •  If  •  •  if 

s     s     s 
3     ^     s 


S  ^  ^  a»  ^  6»  eS  ^sav/ 


Upon  the  word  left,  the  left  hand  man  or  pivot  of  the  section 
faces  to  the  left,  which  is  the  original  front... .the  rest  wait  for 
the  word  wheel ,  when  they  move  into  their  positions,  as  before. 

The  rank  may  be  brought  into  column  of  three  in  front,  by 
th*©  following  command : 

Take  care  to  form  column  of  sections  of  thref, 
left  in  front. 
Sections  of  three„..left...,w1ieel, 

^       ^       T,       Z       Z       '  '  ' 

X       Z       Z       Z       Z       ' 

Z'    •€•  -S-  -S-  'S-  •:SfiiiSiiif  Igif  if 

The  left  half  of  this  figure  describes  the  position  after  the 
GOiAmand  is  accomplished ;  the  right  half  as  at  the  word  lefi. 

They  may  now  be  marched  left  in  front,  faced  to  the  right, 
and  marched  by  heads  of  sections ;  faced  again  to  the  right, 
when  the  right  will  be  in  front ;  and  wheeled  into  line  and 
hiUed. 


MULITAEY    DISCIISI'INE*  51 

CHAP.  Yin. 


SECOND  STAGE  OF  ELEMENTARY  EVOLUTIONS. 

§  1.  IN  this  place  it  may  be  proper  to  apprise  officers' who 
have  Hot  been  \rell  acc«stomed  to  the  drill,  or  undertake  the 
discipline  of  men,  or  who  have  never  entered  into  an  investiga- 
tion of  the  use  and  importance  of  evolutions,  nor  of  the  great 
power  which  a  body  well  disciplined  will  possess,  in  producing 
rapid  manoeuvres,  in  time  and  order ;  in  this  place  it  may  be 
proper  to  apprize  them,  that  as  there  is  no  possible  mode  in 
lyhich  men  can  form  that  the  form  of  the  ground  and  other 
circumstances  may  not  require  them  to  form  in  action,  there- 
fore they  should  be  prepared  for  all  that  is  possible,  and  although 
they  may  in  the  drill  acquire  a  knowledge  of  movements  which 
they  may  seldom  have  occasion  to  perform,  still  their  knowledge 
of  evolutions  will  never  encumber  thera,  and  they  will  at  least 
be  accustomed  to  perform  at  command  ;  nor  will  they  be  at  a 
loss  to  comprehend  the  movements  of  others  which  they  may 
see.  At  the  same  time,  that  as  the  habit  of  obeying,  (and  the 
perfection  of  discipline  is  in  obeying  promptly  and  correctly),  is 
necessary  ;  it  becomes  indispensible  to  understand  what  is  or- 
dered, in  order  to  know  how  to  perform  it.  A  good  discipline 
forms  the  habit  to  the  requisite  knowledge,  both  of  the  words 
and  the  manner  of  accomplishing  what  is  ordered. 

The  drills  are  now  to  be  continued  by  single  rank,  but  "with 
sections  formed  from  the  division  of  the  rank. 

The  company  being  paraded  as  usual,  ranked  and  sized*  they 
will  be  told  that  the  rank  will  now  be  divided  intj  two  parts, 
each  of  which  will  be  called  a  division,  or  half  platoon)  in  order 
to  distinguish  the  half  of  the  squad  from  lesser  sections ;  the 
centre  will  be  told  off,  and  the  Avholc  will  receive  the  word^gf 
precaution  : 

*Attaition» 
The    company   will  move  by   sections   of  threi-: 

from  the  right  of  platoons. 
By  sections  of  t1irce,,..from  the  j^ight  of  platoon$,i,,. 

Forward,„*march, 
Lfft.**.Ti^ieeK 


6^  TIRST   PRINCIPXES   OF 

M  Si  ft  f «  ^1  ft  ft  If  ft  ft  It  If 

This  movement,  it  will  he  perceived,  differs  from  the  move- 
ynent  from  the  right  of  the  rank,  only  in  the  division  of  the  rank 
into  two  parts,  which,  if  the  drill  be  full,  may  be  called  first  and 
second  platoon  instead  of  divisions  :  or,  right  and  left  platoon  ; 
if  small,  they  may  be  called  half  platoons. 

The  exercises  may  be  extended  to  sections  of  four,  six,  eight, 
from  each  platoon,  according  to  the  strength  of  the  squad. 


§  2.  From  the  sections  of  three,  the  progress  may  be  augment- 
ed to  sections  of  four  or  five,  which  will  be  executed  in  a  singte 
rank  in  the  same  manner,  and  all  the  corresponding  evolutions 
will  be  practised  as  in  the  formations  and  movemenis  in  single  file> 

Attention, 

The  company  will  take  care  to  move  by  sections 

of  five  from  the  right. 
I'ell  off..„sections  of  Jive, 

f;      4     3     2      I      5     4     3     2     1      5     4     r»     2      1      5     4     3     2      I 

ti  If  ft  If  tl  ft  If  ft  f 9  ft  1$  $$  f f  9t  ft  ft  §§  ft  ft  It 

The  company  is  now  wheeled  upon  its  left,  in  front  of  the 
rank,  into  column  of  sections  of  five,  marched  and  wheeled  to 
the  right,  and  to  the  left  in  column,  and  brought,  as  in  §  3,  chap. 
VII.  to  wheel  into  rank  upon  the  left  file. 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark  here  once  more,  that  there  is 
great  utility  in  this  method  of  wheeling  into  column  from  the 
right  upon  the  front  of  the  rank  j  as  it  secures  the  dress  of  the 
rank,  and  determines  the  time  of  stepping  off*,  for  every  succeed-- 
ing  section,  in  a  manner  much  better  adapted  to  assure  correct- 
ncfts  than  any  other  method.  The  same  may  be  done  from  the 
left  of  the  rank,  for  the  same  purpose,  as  soon  as  the  habit  is  a 
little  formed  to  evolution. 


§  3.  A  new  evolution  may  now  be  introduced,  occasionally ; 
at  once  to  familiarize  the  men  to  moving  exact  distances,  as  well 
as  to  give  variety  to  the  exercises.  After  being  told  off,  the 
officer  gives  the  word, 


MItlTART  DISCIPLINE.  53 

The  company  will  prepare  to  execute  -with  ex- 
actness A  HEW  MOVEMENT. ...THE  ECHELLON  UPON 
THE  LEFT   SECTION  OF  FIVE. 

T/ie  left  section  will  keefi  its  ground. 

The  third  section  vjill  advance  a  nwnbcr  of  fiacea  equal  to 

its  front. 
The  second  Section  ivill  advance  a  number  of  /lacts  equal  tc 

double  its  front. 
And  the  first  section  tvill  advance  a  number  of  paces  equal 

to  trifile  its  front, 

Mark  time. 
Sections upon    the    left,    to    the    blront    fork 

ECHELLONS-... 

Forward„„march. 

They,  thereup^on,  form  th^e  following  disposition  : 

1  §t  if  ft  ft  ft 

HHHffft 


Hit  If  if  ft 


^MilMHfi 

A  useful  and  important  instruction  may  be  here  communica- 
ted ;  as  the  sections  are  to  advance  perpendicularly  to  the  front, 
a  number  of  paces  equal  to  the  front  of  the  sections  from  right 
to  left ;  there  being  four  sections  ;  and  one  of  them  remaining 
on  its  position,  the  right  section  will  have  to  move  a  number  of 
paces  equal  to  the  front  ©f  three  sections  of  five  files,  so  that 
the  right  will  have  to  advance  fifteen  paces,  the  second  ten  paces, 
and  the  third  five  paces ;  these  principles  should  be  inculcated 
at  every  opportunity  ;  and  the  echellon  disposition  is  particu- 
larly adapted  to  teach  it  accurately  and  test  it  by'  wheelin.^ 


5*  riEST  PRINCIPLES  OP 

From  ihi$  position  the  following  may  be  formed  : 
Sections,, „upon  your  lcft.,,wheeh 
They  then  present  a  front  to  their  former  Ictt,  and  the  lefl, 
which  was  before  thrown  back,  now  appears  advanced,  and  tht 
right  appears  thrown  back  in  this  form  : 


s 

s 
s 


s 


s 

4 

By  the  order  being  given  : 
Sections..„right.,..'wheeL 

They  are  replaced  in  their  former  position.  Tiiey  may  be 
then  formed  on  any  section  in  rank  by  naming  and  moving  the 
section  to  the  point  desired,  and  the  respective  sections  move 
>ip  to  that  position,  and  dress  by  the  section  designated ;  if  in 
front  they  come  to  their  right  about,  or,  by  file  and  wheeling, 
assume  their  position ;  or,  if  exercised,  as  ought  to  be  done  at 
iimes,  in  rough  or  bushy  ground,  brought  up  by  heads  of  sectiops. 

The  infinity  of  positions  and  movements  to  be  produced  from 
the  simplest  modifications  of  the  echellon,  of  which  these  are 
only  the  first  simple  elements,  the  assiduous  officer  will  soon 
percfelve  and  appreciate 


MILIXARY   DISCITLINli.  ^^^ 

Eyery  species  of  section,  platoon,  company  and  battalion  is 
s\Isceptiblc  of  disposition  in  this  form,  and  during  the  wal'  in 
Europe,  lines  of  echellon  have  been  formed,  covering  the  wholb 
front  of  several  hundred  miles,  they  affording  in  every  direc- 
tion points  of  contiguity  and  support,  and  comprehending  in 
their  scope  of  evolution,  a  square  equal  to  the  extent  of  a  day'^ 
evolution  on  every  side. 

§  4.  The  formation  of  any  number  of  sections  or  any  num- 
Ijer  of  fUcs  in  a  section,  is  not  usually  taught  by  old  teachers  \ 
for  what  reason  is  not  easy  to  discover,  since  the  skill  or  trou- 
ble in  acquiring  it  for  forming  any  number  is  not  great,  and  the 
want  of  the  practice  of  forming  any  number  of  files  in  evolution 
will  be  obvious  upon  considering  that  all  movements  in  frorj: 
must  be  governed  by  the  extent  of  the  ground  to  be  passed  over : 
so  that  it  would  be  very  absurd,  if  passing  a  defile,  or  abridge, 
or  a  gate,  though  it  would  admit  of  7,  9,  or  11  files,  and  a  ragu- 
Tation  was  estabhshed  forbidding  sections  of  any  greater  number 
than  5  or  any  less,  the  want  of  a  flexible  capacity  in  the  evorlu« 
tions  of  the  battalions  would  retard  the  march. 

The  section  should  not  be  limited  to  any  number  of  files  in 
platoon,  and  it  should  be  so  disciplined  as  to  form  sections  <jf 
any  required  front,  either  to  augment  or  to  reduce  promptly  i^t 
command.  All  formations  in  battalion,  however,  should  be,  a.^ 
far  as  is  practicable,  composed  of  even  numbers  of  files. 

When  this  elementary  discipline  is  taught  to  cavalry,  they 
should  be  advised  that  mounted  men,  unless  in  passing  the  d*e- 
file,  never  move  or  deploy  in  odd  numbers  of  Jiles  ;  that  their 
numbers  must  always  be  even ;  which  is  required,  because  the 
length  of  the  horse  does  not  admit  of  l^is  wheeling  on  a  square 
f  qual  to  his  front. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  augment  the  number  of  files  in  \^v. 
section. 

AtUniian. 

Take   care  to  wheel  into  column  by  sp:ctions  of 

six.. ..the  right  in  front. 
TeU  off. 

654321654321654321 

Hfdf§ltttititlttf$tfft9§fiflfttil§§f 
Tlie  whole„„Mightfac€. 
Bij  lieuds  of  sections,. *.fi1ght  wlieef. 


56  FIRST    PRI^^CIPLES    OF 

The  following  exhibits  those  sections  in  the  state  of  wheeling 
by  the  right,  or  heads  of  sections  : 

3  33  333  333  333 

H  H  II  II 

n  II  n  H 

H  H  U  H 

The  following  is  the  state  of  open  column  after  having  wheel- 
ed to  the  rear  and  faced  to  the  left,  their  distances  being  equal  to 
their  front.. ..they  receive  the  word, 
Mark  time. 
Left  face. 

3  3  3  3 

3  3  3  3 

3  3  3  3 

3  3  3  3 

3  3  3  3 

3  3  3  3 

This  column  may  be  reduced  to  a  single  rank  by  a  wheel  rta 
the  left  file,  or  by  the  oblique  order,  which  is  only  mentioned 
here  to  have  it  understood,  that  it  is  first  necessary  to  acquire 
the  wheeling  movements  in  the  common  mode  ;  and  that  in  the 
practice  of  formations  at  a  subsequent  state,  wheelings  in  rank 
will  be  superoeded  by  the  quarter  facing  or  oblique  order  of 
movement,  which  is  sometimes  called  the  loose  order  of  forma- 
tion, the  basis  of  which  is  the  Line  of  Science ;  whiclj  will  be 
exemplified  in  a  subsequent  chapter ;  and  in  plates  V.  VI.  and 
VII. ;  and  in  the  same  way  the  principle  of  quarter  wheeling 
and  half  wheeling  may  be  exemplified  to  form  rank  by  sectioQs 
of  any  given  or  required  number,  according  to  the  front  proposed 
to  be  assumed. 

The  principles  of  movement  and  evolution,  exemplified  in  the 
preceding  page»>  apply  equally  to  the  movements  of  a  squad  of 
20  or  a  battalion  of  1000  men,  and  to  any  depth  of  line. 

§  5.  An  important  principle  remains  to  be  exemplified,  in  the 
elementary  part  of  formation,  which  is  one  of  the  most  essential 
parts  of  improvement  in  modern  discipline,  and  by  which  all 
movements  in  line  and  cdumn  are  necessarily  to  be  reduced  to 


MILITARY  DISCIPLINE.  57 

•or  augmented,  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  shall  require  or  admit 
of  movements. 

This  principle  consists  in  aut^menting  or  diminishing  front 
from  the  proper  flank,  and  to  the  proper  flank  when  moving  in 
open  column  of  manoeuvre,  or  iw  close  column  of  attack.  The 
first  movements  are  to  be  acquired  always  in  open  order,  and 
they  are  to  be  first  taught  to  a  single  rank,  divided  into  a  suita- 
ble number  of  sections. 

The  basis  of  this  principle  consists  in  this  rule  -,  that  the 
position  of  every  file  in  the  line  shall  maintain  its  correspon- 
dence through  every  evolution  of  the  colunm.  This  may  be 
understood,  by  counting  the  files,  beginning  on  the  right,  and 
supposing  the  whole  to  be  formed  into  sections  of  seven  ;  the 
sections  being  then  wheeled  upon  their  right  into  column  of 
seven  files  in  front;  the  disposition  shall  bs  such  as  that,  pro- 
ceeding from  right  to  left,  the  files  shall  be  continuous  as  they 
first  stood  :  the  first  file  of  tlie  second  section  counting  8  and 
the  last  14  ;  the  first  file  of  the  third  section  counting  15  and 
the  last  21  ;  the  first  file  of  the  fourth  section  counting  22  and 
the  last  28  ;  and  so  on.  Let  it  be  supposed,  that  the  column  of 
seven  files  front  is  formed  : 

it  t§  §f  f«  if  iiii        1st  section. 
7     6     5     4    3     2     1 


§f  «§  if  f t  ft  f f  ft        2d  section. 
14  13  12  11  10    9     8 


§t  §1  §§  ft  §§  §S  t«        Sd  section. 
21  20  19  IS  if  16  15 


it  m  f§  it  §i  ft  n        4th  secuau, 
S'8  27  26  25  24  23  22 


58  FIRST  PHINCIPJLES    OF 

§  6.  It  is  required  to  augment  the  front  from  se.ven  to  nine 
files,  so  as  to  make  a  column  of  nine  files  in  front. 
The  column  being  in  motion,  the  word  is  given.... 

Take   care    to  augment    column    to   sections  of 
nine  in  front. 

In  order  to  render  the  first  formations  easy,  and  until  the 
habit  is  formed  to  it,  the  column  may  be  brought  to  retain  its 
position  in  column  at  marked  time^  preserving  open  order  until 
the  augmentation  of  the  front  is  completed,  for  which  purpose* 
after  the  precaution  is  given,  the  word, 

Mark  time, 

Form  sections  of  nine.„»March, 

■    df  §f  ft  ft  it  ft  §f 


M  M  ft  ft  ft  %%  ^ 


ilftft '^^^^ 


ft  «^^^^^ 

This  view  represents  only  the  movements  from  the  right, 
the  movements  from  the  left  to  occupy  the  spaces  vacated  on 
the  right,  are  performed  at  the  same  time  by  a  side  step,  by  di- 
rect facing  to  the  right,  when  on  the  ground,  without  advancing ; 
or  by  a  quarter  facing  and  advancing  on  a  diagonal  line  so  as  to 
cover  the  right  hand  file  of  the  leading  section,  when  in  motion, 
which  must  be  performed  in  every  section  from  front  to  rear. 
The  diagonal  facings  must  be  by  every  single  man  from  his 
front  to  the  direction  in  which  he  is  to  march  and  occupy,  his 


MIIITARY  DISCIPLINE.  59 

left  shoulder  in  the  rear  of  the  man  moving  before  him.  So 
that  the  augmentations  shall  always  come  from  the  right  of  each 
successive  section  to  the  left  of  the  section  in  its  front. 

The  aagmentation  here  presents  an  appearance,  which,  by 
anticipation,  unfolds  the  nature  of  the  Line  of  Science  or  diagonal 
movement ;  as  the  front  section  must  be  necessarily  augmented 
by  the  files  which  would  count  next  to  it  in  tlie  rank,  the  two  right 
hand  files  of  the  second  section,  necessarily  must  march  diago- 
nally from  the  right  of  the  second  to  the  left  of  the  first,  so  that 
No.  9  becomes  the  left  file  of  the  first  section,  on  the  left  of  the 
files  No.  7  and  8  ;  and  No.  10  becomes  the  right  of  the  second 
section ;  for  which  purpose,  that  file  must  moVe  two  paces  to  the 
right ;  this  second  section  having  been  deprived  of  two  men  on 
the  right,  in  order  to  possess  the  required  number,  No.  2  must 
obtain  four  men  from  the  right  of  the  third  section,  which  four 
must  move  diagonally  to  the  left  of  the  second  from  the  right  of 
the  third ;  and  so  the  sections  successively  receive  from  the 
right  of  the  sections  in  their  rear,  the  numbers  necessary  to  give 
them  their  required  front.  The  augmentation  being  constantly 
made  from  the  right  of  the  next  rear  section  to  the  left  of  the 
next  front  section. 

Let  it  not  be  kept  ©ut  of  sight  an  instant,that  all  these  shanges 
are  to  be  executed  on  the  march  at  the  quick  time  of  a  lively 
dance. 


§  7.  These  examples  will  afford  the  ofTicer  who  has  charge  of 
the  drill,  opportunities  to  exercise  his  own  taste,  and  form  his 
habit  to  com;wawc/.... and  prepare  him  for  the  exccutioaof  7nan<fw- 
■vres  ;  the  men  will  find  gratification  in  it  themselves  ;  a  few 
wheelings  into  an  oblique  order  will  suffice  to  close  the  instruc 
lions  for  the  drill  with  a  rank  of  single  files.  The  squad  being 
formed  and  dressed,  the  officer  will  give  the  precautions ; 

Attention. 
The  s^uad  will  take  care  to  take  groukd  to  the 
left  of  the  left  platoon  by  av  oblique  move- 
ment isr  sections  of  four. 

Tell  off.,. .sections  of  four* 
Mark  time. 


60  FIRST  PRIXCIPLES    or 

The  sections  will  half  wheel  upon  the  left  four  paces.. ..the 
right  hand  man  will  take  care  to  step  only  four  paces  and  dress. 

Sect  ions,,,. upon  your  left,,,. 
Half  wli0cL.„march, 

.*    ^.*    »*   «,*   «* 

**    «*  «*    **   ** 

The  sections  are  now  marched  to  the  required  ground,  and 
nvay  be  wheeled  into  column,  by  the  words  : 

Take  care  to  form  column  by  half  wheeling  on  the 

LEFT    of  sections.... 

Sections „„upon  yo7ir  left„.,lialf  wheel. 

The  sections  may  be  mxi  half  wheeled  upon  their  right  into 
oblique  order  again  ;  and  to  give  variety  to  their  movements, 
they  may  receive  the  word.... 

Sections,... 

Upon  your  left  half  ■whcel„„riglit.,„f ace. 

They  will  then  present  this  position  ; 

1^  *  '^  *  ^ 

They  may  be  then  faced  and  brought  to  the  same  position  as 
if  they  had  been  half  wheeled  upon  the  right  of  a  section  : 
Seclions,...rigUface, 

*  ♦^  *-  *^         "^A 

They  may  be  then  wheeled  up(ji  their  right  into  column,  or 
upon  their  left  into  single  rank,  or  from  column  wheeled  into 
rank,  which  will  pJace  all  the  sections  reversed,  and  the  rank 
faced  to  the  rear ;  the  original  right  sections  being  the  left  of  the 
rank  ;  a  useful  evolution  may  be  now  executed,  that  is  the  coun- 
iitrmarch^  by  which  th©  sections  may  each  move  distinctly  and 


fg 


MIXtTARY  DISClPXINJi.  61 

produce  their  original  formation  to  the  proper  point.  It  may 
be  executed  by  the  following  \vords....the  rank  being  now  formed 
faced  to  the  rear  : 

Take  care  to  resume  your  original  disposition,  uv 
countermarching  sections. 


Sections.,., by  your  left..., 
Countermorch...,mareh„.,frontface. 

They  -will  then  exhibit  this  position  : 


S  S  S  ^  S 

The  following  will  shew  the  application  of  the  cchelion  to  tho 
change  of  front,  or  the  forming  of  a  rank  or  line  in  a  new  direc- 
tion ;  the  company  is  presumed  to  be  already  in  rank,  and 
wheeled  upon  its  right  into  the  position  of  the  last  figure  of  the 
preceding  page,  the  following  precaution  is  given  : 

The   company  will   form  a  new  alignment. ...faced 
t®  the  right.. ..akd  fo'rm  upon  the  third  section, 
Mark  time. 

Third  section., ..right face. 
Third  section,,. .upon  ijour  right  jHe.„^orm, 

The  right  file  or  head  of  the  section  here  keeps  his  place,  but 
faces  to  the  right;  the  other  files  come  up  succe^ively  on  his 
left  and  dress  by  the  right. 

The  left  sections  will  perform  exactly  the  same  motions,  will 
face  to  the  right,  advancing  their  head  file,  till  in  line  with  the 
third  section,  and  then  dress  by  the  third  section  ;  the  right 
sections  will  move  till  the  head  of  each  shall  come  into  the  line 
with  the  right  of  the  third  section,  they  will  front  and  dress  by 
that  section  at  marked  time,  and  continue  till  halted. 


A  <k        *         ^         *• 


flKST   PllINClPLES   OF 


CHAP.  IX. 


EVOLUTIONS  IN  THE  ORDER  OF  TWO  DEEP. 

§  1 .  JL  HE  formation  of  the  order  of  two  ranks,  for  evolution, 
may  now  commence. 

The  squad  being;  drawn  up  in  single  rank,  as  usual,  and  the 
parade  being  dressed  and  steady,  the  whole  ranked  and  sized,  as 
in  chap.  V.  receive  the  precaution : 

Mtention. 

The  company  will  prepahe  to  exercise  in  double 

FILES. 

Tell  off, 

OnCy  two.., .one,  i'ivo...,o7ie,  iivo....one,  two. 

The  right  hand  man  speaks  out  in  a  clear,  quick  voice,  one, 
the  second,  two,  the  third,  one,  the  fourth,  ^wo....and  so  on  to  the 
left. 

The  order  of  formation  is  that  the  tallest  men  shall  be  on  the 
right  and  left  of  the  rank,  and  that  the  men  of  the  rear  rank  shall 
be  sucoessively  taller  than  those  of  the  same  file  in  front ;  this 
must  be  accomplished  in  a  soldierly  manner. 

A  moment's  reflection  will  show  that  if  the  files  be  now  form- 
ed out  of  the  company,  ranked  and  sized  from  the  flanks  to  the 
centre,  the  common  way,  that  the  men  of  the  front  rank  on  the 
left  half  of  the  company,  will  be  taller  than  the  men  in  their 
rear,  while  the  contrary  will  be  the  case  on  the  right ;  it  will  be 
necessary  to  obviate  this  by  a  more  accurate  method.. ..The  com- 
pany being  told  off,  the  centre  is  found,  and  the  following  in- 
structions  and  commands  will  be  given  : 

The  covifiayiy  will  wheel  ii^to  double  Jiles  from  the  centre  out- 
ward  ;  the  odd  files  will  in  this  movement  be  the  pivots  of  the 
right  half  platoon,  so  that  when  the  words. ...n^-A^  and  /f//,are 
given,  the  even  files  of  the  left  half  platoon  face  to  the  left,  and 
the  odd  flics  of  the  right  half  platoon  face  to  the  right.  They 
receive  the  precaution : 


MILITARY    DISCIPHNE.  63 

Attention, 

Take  care  to  wheel  into  double  files  from  the 

centre  outward. 
Mark  time. 

Sections,,., ly  double  jilts. 
Bight  and  left„„oiLtward.,„wheel, 

This  will  be  the  disposition  at  the  word  right  and  left  ;  at  the 
word  wheel,  they  will  move  into  this  disposition. 

Thereupon  they  will  receive  either  the  words, 

Frontface, 
And  they  will  present  this  disposition, 


ft 

ft 

ft 

ft 

M 

ft 

ft 

ft 

§1 

ft 

ft 

ft 

ft 

ft 

ft 

ft 

Or  they  will  receive  the  word, 

Left  secHons.„,rig1it  ahout„„facc. 
Close  order, ,.,form.,„halt. 

They  will  now  close  up  into  the  order  of  marching  in  double 
files,  and  will  present  the  following  disposition,  which  may  be 
called  a  column  of  double  files,  or  two  ranks  faced  to  the  right 

§  2.  The  next  operation  is  to  put  the  column  in  motion,  whicii 
corresponds  in  general  with  the  movements  in  single  file  ;  the 
principal  difference  in  modern  discipline  is,  the  care  that  is  re- 
quired in  making  all  wheelings  upon  the  principle  of  the/2/z;ojr, 
by  which  is  to  be  understood,  that  every  man  who  is  at  the  point 
upon  which  a  wheel  is  made,  is  called  the  pivot  ;  and  so  must 
every  man  be,  whatever  be  the  number  of  men  in  the  rank,  sec- 
tion, or  platoon,  above  one.  This  will  be  exemplified  in  the  two 
views  of  a  wheel  to  the  right. 
Attention, 


<i*  :FI119T  PItINCIPX.ES  OF 

The  column    will  take    care  to    wheel   to  the 

RIGHT. 

Mark  time. 
The  righU.. 

This  word  is  to  the  single  man  on  the  head  of  the  column, 
and  on  the  right,  the  ivord  of  execution  ;  he  must,  as  is  repre- 
sented, face  to  the  right,  while  all  the  rest  wait  for  the  word 
Wheel. 

S  eS  w  S  3>  <S  eS  <im  s»  «j»S3v 

Upon  this  word,  tHe  man  who  has  faced,  steps  out,  and  his 
left  hand  man  wheels  up  on  his  left  side  ;  and  so  every  right 
Mnd  man,  on  coming  to  the  same  ground  on  which  the  first 
man  stood,  faces  briskly  to  the  right,  and  marks  time  till 
his  comrade  on  the  left  gains  the  same  front  by  a  wheel  on 
his  left ;  they  then  dress  and  advance.  The  following  figure 
exemplifies  the  operation  of  the  wheel,  conformably  to  this  rule. 

The  officer  will  signify  that  all  the  movements  now  are  to  be 
made  in  two  ranks  or  double  files ;  and  that  the  intimation  of 
double  Jiles^  will  now  cease  to  be  used. 

R\^t  wheel. 
Fortvard...,march. 

(a»  S  ^  S  S        ^ 

1191 

WH 
1199 

99  99 

The  right  hand  man  instantly  faces  to  the  ri^ht,  on  his  gain- 
ing the  rear  of  the  advancing  file  ;  the  left  hand  man  wheels 
round  his  left  on  as  short  a  line  as  possible. 

The  following  movements  are  simple  wheelings  of  the  same 
column  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  upon  the  same  principles,  in 
single  files,  by  the  word. 


MIXITARY    I>ISCIPIiI?fE»  65 

Bight  wheel.    •  E  E  ^\ 

II  ii 

nil 
nil 
nil 

Left  whed.  ^   S  S  »  S 

s»  S  S  eS 

§  3.  The  progress  of  the  drill  next  extends  to  sections  in 
double  ranks... .they  form  in  two  ranks,  and  are  divided  into  two 
sections  ;  they  receive  command  as  follows  : 

Mtention, 

Mark  time. 

The  ivhole„„rightface. 

By  heads  (^  sections.,., to  the  left....whefil. 

ft  ft  if  if 

33S33S  Sit  333333311^ 

3333333    ^  3333333    ^ 

The  sections  are,  as  in  the  drills  of  single  ranks,  after  some 
marching,  moved  into  their  first  position,  and  then  follow  move- 
ments to  the  rear :  by  the  words  of  command  which  are  now 
familiar. 

Take   care  to    wheel  to  the  rear    ry  heads 
sections. 

TJie  whole.,. .right face. 

By  heads  of  sections...,right„..wheeh 

tm  stt>  (S9  6Qi>^s]&i9^         sm  sm  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^  si^ 

33333333 II      333333311 

5^1111  ^11 II 

^n  II  ^11 II 

II II  II II 


66  FIRST  PKINCIPLES   OF 

The  numbers  of  files  are  augmented  in  the  following  figures., 
merely  to  display  the  movements  more  distinctly  ;  two  bodies 
drilled  by  different  oflicers,  or  when  the  drill  is  advanced,  may 
be  purposely  brought  into  such  relative  positions,  and  be 
moved  in  a  military  manner,  by  such  wheelings  or  counter- 
marchings,  as  shall  be  best  adapted  not  to  occupy  the  ground, 
or  interrupt  the  evolutions  of  the  other  body. 

These  two  bodies  may  be  meved  out  of  each  other's  way  by 
one  word  of  command  . 

Heads  of  sectio7rs,.*Jeft  whech 

w  Hi  m  II 

Mil  HH 


The  two  following  counter  dispositions,  the  left  section  facing 
to  the  left,  and  wheeling  twice  successively  to  the  right ;  and 
the  right  facing  to  the  right  and  wheeling  twice  successively  to 
the  right ;  exhibit  a  countermarch.... 

Heads  of  sections.,,. 
Bight  wheel.. ..right  wheel 


S  3  3  S  3 
33333 

nn 

ItM 

#1333333        3333333 
3S33S3S        3333333IIII 

?^|||| 

3SSSII 


i 


MIIITARY  DISCIPLINE.  67 

§  4.  V/heeling  inw  ard  in  double  files,  and  to  the  rear  in  column 
of  sections  of  four.. ..and  outward  in  double  files  from  the  centre 

Take    care  to    form  column  upon  the,  centre..  . 
four  in  front. ...wheeled  to  the  rear. 

Mark  time. 

Sections,.„inward,.,.face,...dres», 
From  the  centre. „Jieads  of  sections.,..outward  wheel 
....march. 

H  ii  II  n 

nn  nn 
mi  nn 

Facing  inward. ...and  wheeling  to  the  front  from  the  centre 
by  sections  of  four,  exhibits  another  method  of  forming  column 
on  the  centre. 

Sections. ...iifward  face. 

From  the  centre....heads  of  seclions.... front  whcd. 


n  if  di  ft 


m  If 


^ 


These  evolutions,  which  may  be  varied  to  advantage,  will  suf- 
fice for  the  first  movements  in  double  files,  or  two  ranks;  as  we 
approach  a  larger  section  the  subject  becomes  more  familiar  in 
practice,  and  more  interesting,  as  it  yields  an  inexhaustible 
variety;  although  it  must  be  now  clearly  perceived  that  it  con- 
sists in  the  application  of  only  the  three  primitive  principles  of 
marching  exactly, yacf^z^  and  ivheeling  correctly. 

The  formation  of  column  upon  the  centre  is  further  illustra- 
ted in  chapter  XI.  §  5  and  6.  The  words  of  command  will  by 
this  time  be  sufficiently  understood. 


68  FIRST   PRINCIPLES    OP 

Take  care  to  form  column  in  the  rear  of  the 
centre  sections. 

Mark  time. 

The  tivo  centre  sections  'will  keep  their  position:. 
The  sections  right  of  the  centre  "mil  face  to  the  lefty  the  ^  ifc- 
tions  Hvillface  to  the  right. 

Inward  face. 

To  the  rear....quarter  J ace.^„marcli. 

Mark  time....front  form.,.. dress.. Jialt. 

These  movements  are  also  illustrated  in  the  plates  III.  and 
IV.  and  explained  in  the  following  chapters. 

The  formation  of  two  ranks,  by  wheeling  into  double  files  and 
facing  to  the  front,  is  not  the  usual  mode  in  any  system  hitherto 
practised  ;  various  contrivances  have  been  made,  ingenious  as 
matters  of  mere  parade  and  agility  ;  and  some  of  them  applica- 
ble to  particular  descriptions  of  troops  ;  such  as  by  telling  oft' 
from  right  to  left  in  terms  by  the  men,  the  first  beginning  with 
rightf  the  second  with  lefty  and  so  on  from  right  to  left ;  and  by 
the  word  of  command,  left  files. ...to  the  rear  double^  which 
brings  the  left  files  in  the  rear  of  the  right  hand  files.  This 
method  is  well  enou.fiih  adapted  to  mere  parade,  and  it  may  serve 
for  the  parade  of  guards,  and  even  for  the  drill  of  rifle  corps 
where  the  advancing  and  retiring  by  files  is  part  of  their 
discipline.  But  as  it  is  expressly  required,  that  no  move- 
ment or  evolution  be  admitted,  but  such  as  is  conformable 
to  the  mode  of  movement  for  action,  it  is  thought  fit  to  repeat 
it  here,  because  having  formed  double  ranks  by  movements  in 
cadence,  with  which  the  common  modes  of  movement  do  not 
accord,  so  throughout  each  progressive  variation  of  evolution 
is  to  be  conducted  upon  the  same  principles  ;  the  method  of 
action  is  the  base  of  all  military  instruction  ;  if  other  modes 
are  admitted  on  parade,  or  for  the  amusement  of  officers,  let 
them  arise  as  incidents,  or  matters  by  which  the  ofiicer  can 
shew  the  diversity  of  his  skill  in  imitating  all  kinds  ef  discipline ; 
let  the  system  for  actual  discipline  and  movement,  be  founded 
on  simple,  intelligible,  uniform,  and  scientific  principles. 


MILITARY    DISCIPXINE.  69 


CHAP.  X. 


DIAGONAL  MOVEMENTS. 


§  1.  Diagonal  movements  huve  been  always  in  use. 
employed  as  an  incident  arising  out  of  necessity,  without  any 
rule  or  regulation  :  instead  of  following  nature,  disciplinarians 
have  opposed  it;  and  they  have  been  sought  to  be  overcome 
instead  of  being  explained.  The  passion  of  military  writers 
and  parade  officers  has  been  to  please  the  eye  and  accomplish 
movements  without  knowing  why  or  wherefore,  and  by  means 
adopted  without  investigation  ;  instead  of  drawing  a  rule  from 
natural  data,  they  assumed  as  a  fact,  that  all  military  move- 
ments were  to  be  regulated  by  circles,  or  parallel  lrnes....and 
held  every  deviation  from  these  to  be  a  violation  from  military 
principles.  Even  the  Greek  and  Roman  examples  were  thrown 
away.  It  came,  however,  to  be  discovered,  when  officers  learned 
to  reason,  and  men  who  were  fit  to  command  had  the  regula- 
tion and  equipment  of  armies,  that  the  faculties  and  capacities 
of  men  were  the  first  consideration...  that  their  faculties  of  mind 
and  spirit  were  limited  only  by  disease  or  physical  impossibility  ; 
but  that  certain  operations  of  war  depended  upon  celerity,  pre- 
cision, and  the  preservation  of  the  muscular  power  of  the  men. 
To  diminish  the  quantity  of  fatigue,  was  to  preserve  the  un- 
wasted  portion  of  human  power  for  service.  To  shorten  the 
space  of  military  motion,  was  by  the  same  means  to  save  labo7' 
and  time. 

When  it  is  considered  that  during  the  long  war  of  Louis  XIV 
of  France,  eight  of  those  who  had  risen  to  ths  rank  of  marshah 
of  France,  were  so  very  incompetent  as  to  have  brought  France 
to  the  verge  of  ruin  ;  and  that  not  more  than  three  really  me» 
rited  the  name  of  generals  ;  that  England,  so  renowned  for 
admirals,  has  not  produced  an  equal  number  of  general  officers 
in  three  centuries  ;  and  that  Marlborough  alone  stands  upon  the 


70  FIKST   PKIVCIPLES    OF 

same  elevated  ground  with  Tuvenne,  Conde,  and  Luxembourg  ; 
we  shall  not  be  surprised  that  military  priiiciples,  like  truths  of 
every  kind,  have  had  to  fight  their  way  through  the  thickest 
disorder  of  ignorance,  and  the  quackery  of  men  appointed  to 
stations  for  which  God  had  denied  them  the  smallest  qualifica- 
tion. The  devotion  to  old  forms  is  generally  the  effect  of  a 
total  ignorance  of  what  is  good  or  right  in  any  form.  Folard, 
whose  columns  are  now  universally  adopted,  was  persecuted  to 
death  by  those  who  hated  him  for  the  innovation  ;  Guibcrt, 
though  not  quite  so  unfortunate,  improved  military  science  so 
much  as  to  be  hated  ;  the  improvements  in  light  artillery  which 
have  produced  such  wondrous  effects,  forced  the  inventor  out  of 
France  into  a  foreign  service,  from  which  his  improvements  at 
last  forced  France  to  recal  him  ;  and  Grimoard,  who  lives  at 
this  day,  was  a  persecuted  man,  because  he  sought  to  promote 
improvements  in  science,  at  the  head  of  which  were  at  that 
time  placed  the  greatest  blockheads,  and  particularly  in  the 
military  art. 

Saxe  and  the  Prussian  Frederick  had  employed  the  great 
principles  of  the  oblique  movements ;  but  it  was  left  for  the 
French  revolution  to  reduce  them  to  the  utmost  simplicity. 

The  principle  consists  in  avoiding,  wherever  practicable, 
movements  upon  the  periphery  of  a  circle,  of  which  the  centre 
is  the  pivot  of  a  rank  :  in  the  ordinary  way,  if  a  platoon  of  25 
men  are  ordered  to  wheel  upon  their  right,  the  line  upon  which 
they  stand  would  forna  one  side  of  a  rectangle,  and  the  line  to 
which  they  have  to  move  would  form  the  other  side  ;  each  man 
excepting  the  pivot  man,  would  have  to  move  the  fourth  part  of 
a  circle,  and  there  would  be  several  circles  successively  larger 
in  proportion  as  the  rank  extended  from  the  pivot  to  the  left ; 
and  as  the  distance  moved  upon  the  whole  of  a  circle  is  to  the 
diameter  as  about  3  to  1,  so  the  movement  upon  the  fourth  of 
the  circle  must  be  in  the  like  proportion.  The  rank  being  25 
men,  gives  75  feet  for  the  front  of  the  rank,  and  that  must 
necessarily  be  the  length  of  a  semi-diameter.. ..the  order  be- 
ing given  to  wheel  upon  the  right,  the  soldier  on  the  out- 
ward or  left  flank  will  have  to  perform  his  march  in  the 
wheeling  on  the  exterior  or  periphery  of  the  circle  :  and  this 
will  be  in  length  more  than  a  right  line  drann  from  the  centre, 
as  one  half  of  the  circle  is  to  one  fourth  of  the  periphery,  or  at- 


MILITARY    DISCIPLINE.  Vl 

50  to  75,  he  will  have  to  march  75  feet,  or  900  inches  ;  instead 
of  50  feet  or  600  inches  ;  but  as  he  must  reach  that  point,  it  is 
necessary  he  should  do  so  ;  the  new  principles  determine  that 
it  must  be  done  in  the  shortest  time,  with  the  least  labor,  and 
therefore  by  the  most  direct  line  ;  and  so  of  every  man,  each 
is  required  to  go  direct  to  the  position  in  which  he  is  to  form ; 
and  the  shortest  line  is  that  which  is  called  the  hypothenuse  of 
a  rectangled  triangle  ;  thus  every  man  moves  upon  a  direct  line 
drawn  from  the  point  upon  which  he  stands,  to  that  which  he 
is  to  occupy.  The  operation  of  the  circular  wheel  1%  shewn  in 
fig.  1.  and  the  oblique  in  fig.  2. 


pre.  1. 


;7 ////////'.''.'-: 


Fir.  2 


To  carry  this  principle  into  immediate  operation^  the  first 
drills  of  the  augmentation  of  front  have  afforded  occasion  to 
commejnce  it,  and  it  remains  to  give  a  variety  to  the  exercises. 

It  must  be  begun  with  a  single  rank,  who  must  be  exercised 
for  a  short  time  in  facing  to  the  right  and  left,  at  marked  time  ; 
after  which  the  officer  must  inform  them  of  a  method  devised 
to  shorten  evojutious  ;  and  that  it  consists  of  facing  not  quite 
as  far  round  as  in  facing  to  the  right  or  left,  but  about  half 
that  space,  whence  it  will  be  called  half  facing  ;  that  the  pur- 
pose of  it  is  to  place  every  man  in  that  position,  that  by 
pursuing  a  straight  line  from  the  point  on  which  he  stands  to 
that  into  which  he  is  to  be  formed,  he  may  execute  the  move- 
ment more  exactly^  directly^  and  in  less  time.  lie  gives  the 
word  of  precaution,  and  follows  it  by  the  movements. 


7^  FIRST  PRINCIPLES   01 

Attention* 

Mark  time, 

Bightface, 

Front  face, 

Right.,  .Malffa  ce . 

Front  face, 

Leftface, 

Front  face, 

Left„„half  face. 

Front. 
§  2.  As  soon  as  this  is  tolerably  well  understood  and  practised, 
and  that  in  half  facing  to  the  left,  the  left  shoulder  of  the  second 
man  is  in  the  rear  of  the  right  of  the  first,  and  they  all  dress 
well  half  faced.. ..the  rank,  formed  and  half  faced  to  the  left,  will 
present  this  appearance. 

ThGy  are  then  fronted  and  dressed  in  rank  as  usual. 

To  give  them  a  gradual  acquaintance  with  the  mode  of  move- 
ment....they  must  be  directed  to  tell  off  by  sections  of  three, 
and  receive  the  words  in  the  following  order : 

Attention. 
Take  care  to  tell  off  by  sections  of  three. 

Tell  off, 
One^  twOf  three. .„oney  two,  three.,.. 
Precaution.... 

The  company  will  now  form  column,  three  in  front, 

FACED  to  Tn-B,  RIOHT  (OR  ON  OBLrqUB  LINES.) 

The  sections  will  move  fro^  rank  into  column  bt 
the  line  of  science. 

Mark  time, 
nig1it,„.half  face. 


mixitJlRY  discipline.  73 

Xhey  should  now  be  formed  into  rank  by  quarter  facing  to 
the  left.. ..the  left  hand  man  of  each  section  as  usual  facing  at  the 
word  left^  and  moving  into  rank  at  the  vfovd..,.. front  form  ;  the 
men  forming  the  pivots  face  to  the  front,  the  other  two  files 
feft  waiting  for  the  word  half  face. 

Take  care  to  form  front  upon  the  left  of  sec- 
tions. 

Left.Jialf  face. 
Front. ,..form„„marcK 

§  3.  The  same  method  may  be  now  pursued  with  sections  of 
4,  and  6,  8,  12,  or  20. ...and  at  length  the  whole  parade  may  be 
made  to  move  up  by  the  line  of  science  j  guides  of  evolution 
must  be  employed  in  these  exercises. 

Plate  I.  represents  a  company  in  three  positions,  with  officers 
posted;  tha  two  first  conform  to  the  old  mode,  which  is  still 
retained  and  used  when  necessary  ;  the  third  describes  the  new- 
oblique  order,  or  line  of  science.  This  plate  and  plates  2,  3,  4^ 
6  and  7,  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  new  method  of  movement. 

Fig.  1,  plate  I-  represents  the  company  after  having  been  told 
off  by  the  voice,  into  twenty  double  files  with  the  officers  posted, 
the  captain  on  the  right,  the  first  lieutenant  on  the  left,  and  the 
second  lieutenant  and  ensign  forming  the  supernumerary  rank 
in  the  rear  ;  the  officer  of  the  parade  intimates  as  in  §  1,  2,  chap. 
VII.  that  the  company  is  to  form  two  sections  or  half  platoons, 
of  which  1  is  the  right  and  10  the  left  of  the  first  half  platoon  ; 
11  i3  the  right  and  20  the  left  of  the  second  half  platoon  ;  that 
the  company  is  to  advance  by  half  platoons  from  the  outward 
flanks  to  the  front ;  and  the  whole  being  dressed  receive  the  fol- 
lowing wonis,  which  all  lead  from  the  first  to  the  second  posi° 
lion  : 


Jitimtion  the  whole. 

The  company  will  take  care  to  advance  by  hai.> 
platoons  from  the  flanks  to  the  front. 

Half  platoons. .^outward  face. 

To  the  front  wlieeh,.  forward,,. .march 

Mark  time. 

The  front  rank  man  on  each  flank  of  the  rank  are  the  pivots 
and  do  not  move  on  the  word  outward  facc^  the  precautionary 
word  having  taught  them  that  as  they  are  to  wheel  upon  the 
flanks,  they  act  as  pivots. 

Fig.  2.  plate  I.  shows  the  company  advanced  in  columns  of 
double  files  in  half  platoons,  and  the  officers  posted  on  the  inner 
flanks. 

Fig.  3.  plate  I.  represents  very  distinctly  the  new  method  of 
formation,  by  the  line  of  science.  To  comprehend  the  inten- 
tion of  the  plate,  it  must  be  understood  that  the  men  in  column 
described  in  outline  only,  in  fig.  3.  represent  the  same  men  as 
those  formed  in  column  in  fig.  2.  and  that  they  are  here  showB 
in  the  two  dispositions  the  better  to  exhibit  the  method  of  move- 
ment from  the  columns  by  the  oblique  line,  into  the  platoon  of 
double  files  ;  so  that  the  outer  ranks  on  both  ends  of  the  figures 
2  and  3,  constitute  the  rear  rank  when  in  order  of  platoon. 

The  old  method  of  wheeling  would  face  the  two  half  platoons 
inward  :  but  the  new  method  only  quarter  fices  them,  and 
moves  them  by  the  following  words  ;  which  immediately  suc- 
ceed mark  time. 

The  company  will  take  care  to  half  face  in-vyard, 
and  form  front  by  the  oblique  movement.*.. 

Half  platoons,,,  .inwa7'd,'„.half  face: 
To  the  front  form„„march, 
Mark  time,.,.dress,„.ha}t, 

^  ^.  The  plate  annexed,  No.  II.  presents  the  movements  of 
the  company  in   sections  of  five,  in  three  dispositions,  the  two 
first  corresponding  with  the  principles  laid  down  in  chap.  VIII 
and  the  cvoltitions  by  sections  wheeling  to  tlic  right  by  htads 
of  sections. 


MILITARY   DISCXPIilXB.  75 

Tbe  company  in  fii^.  1.  is  represented  in  two  ranks,  as  having 
received  the  following  words  of  command  and  completed  them : 

Company,  taUe  care  to  advavce  to   the  front  by 
the  right  of  sections. 
TJi€whole.,„mar]i  time. 
Right  face. 

The  captain  is  posted  on  the  right,  the  hrst  lieutenant  on  the 
left,  the  second  lieutenant  and  ensign  in  the  rear  or  left  when 
faced ;  the  right  hand  man  of  each  section  on  hearing  in  the 
precaution  that  the  sections  are  to  advance  by  the  right  of  sec- 
tions, will  hold  themselves  as  pivots^  and  will  not  face  lo  the  right, 
so  that  as  presented  in  the  plate  it  will  he  perceived  these  pivots 
keep  their  position,  but  they  must  mark  time  with  all  the  rest ; 
and  the  captain  also  retains  his  front  t©  command  and  lead. 

Fig.  2.  plate  II.  represents  the  company  in  the  position  it  has 
taken,  upon  the  execution  of  the  following  words  immediately 
after  the  preceding. 

Reads  of  sections„.,left.,.»wheel.,,.inarch„.,halL 

Here  sections  are  formed  and  an  officer  posted  on  the  left  of 
the  leading  files  of  each  section,  according  to  the  old  method; 
but  the  new  method  requires  the  leaders  of  sections  to  be  on 
the  right. 

Fig.  3.  plate  II.  presents  the  method  ol  formation  by  the  im- 
proved oblique  movement,  or  line  of  science.  Particular  atten- 
tion paid  to  this  mode  of  formalion,  in  one  instance,  will  render 
every  similar  movement  easy  and  faniiliar  ;  there  is  no  difficulty 
in  it  other  than  as  it  differs  in  form  from  the  operation  of 
wheeling,  but  it  affects  only  one  file  ;  thus,  as  the  left  hand  man 
of  each  file  when  the  company  is  wheeled  into  sections  upon 
their  right,  belongs  to  the  rear  rank  when  formed  in  ranks  en- 
tire, when  the  quarter  facing^  for  the  oblique  movement  takes 
^ace,  these  files  which  belong  to  the  rear  rank,  must  so  govern 
their  facing  as  to  fall  into  the  rear  of  the  man  wiio  forms  their 
right  in  sections  and  their  front  in  rank. 

The  company  being  formed  in  sections  as  in  the  unshaded 
lines,  fig.  3.  is  required  to  form  to  the  front  by  moving  in  the 
new  oblique  order,  by  the  following  words  of  command  ;  the 
fiivot  meuy  or  those  on  the  right  of  each  section  who  belonged 
to  the  front  rank,  retain  their  position  to  the  front. 


T6  FIRST   PRINClPttS    Of 

Mention. 

Take  care  t®  form  front  by  the  oBLiquE  Movti'- 

MENT. 

Left,,*. quarter  face, 
March„„mark  tim€„„dress„„1ialt, 

§  5.  Plate  III.  represents  the  formation  of  column  upon  the 
centre  of  platoons.  This  method  is  now  adopted  in  the  French 
system  for  the  movement  of  lines  in  advance  or  retreat,  in  pre- 
ference to  that  in  the  regulation  of  1791,  without  however  ex- 
cluding the  latter,  whenever  a  flank  formation  maybe  preferred. 

The  militnry  movements  are  the  same  as  in  the  preceding, 
the  company  forms  two  half  platoons  by  numbers  told  ;  and 
instead  of  being  wheeled  on  the  outward  flanks,  they  are  now 
wheeled  upon  the  inner  flank  of  half  platoons,  as  in  §  4^ 
Chap.  IX. 

Attention, 

The  company  will  take  care  to  form  column 
upon  the  centre,  by  wheeling  upon  the  centre 
to  the  front. 

Mark  time* 

Half  platoons. „,in'ward„,. face, 

Front  wheel, 

Mark  time. 

Fig.  1.  represents  the  company  faced  inward,  all  but  the  cen- 
tral or  leading  section  of  the  column. 

Fig.  2.  represents  the  company  advanced  in  column  four  in 
front. 

Fig.  3.  represents  the  formation  to  the  front,  by  the  display 
of  the  column  according  to  the  new  oblique  mode  of 
movement,  which  is  executed  by  the  following  words  of 
cotnmand  : 

Half  platoons„„outward.„,quarterface, 
ITpon  the  centre.„,frontform,,*,march. 
Mark  time,„,dress.,„haU. 

§  6.  Plate  IV.  represents  the  company  advancing  from  the 
centre  of  half  platoons.  This  method  of  movement  is  very  im- 
portant ;  it  has  been  adopted  in  the  French  system,  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  movements  from  the  flanks,  in  the  formation  of 
columns  of  attack,  upon  the  recommendation  of  general  Meu« 


MILITARY  DISCIPIIXE.  7.; 

jiier,  and  was  practised  at  Rhamanie,  in  Egypt,  by  columns  ot 
very  large  depth  and  front,  who  were  separated  from  front  to 
rear,  and  made  to  form  distinct  columns  upon  some  occasioni. 
The  company  is  as  usual  told  by  the  voice  and  in  numbers,  and 
the  vyhole  company  now  forms  two  half  platoons,  and  four  quar- 
ter platoons  or  sections,  as  the  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  form  the  first  sec- 
tion; 6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  the  second  section  ;  1 1,  12,  13,  14,  15,  the 
third  section  ;   16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  the  fourth  section. 

It  being  intended  that  they  should  move  to  the  front  from  the 
centre  of  half  platoons,  the  necessary  precaution  is  given. ...and 
the  words  in  the  following  manner  : 

•Atteiition. 

The  company  is  to  advance  by  sections  frok 
the  centre  of  half  platoons. 

The  files  5  and  6,  15  and  16,  will  necessarily  be  the  pivots^ 
and  the  whole  will  be  faced  so  that  the  left  sections  of  each  pla- 
toon shall  be  faced  to  the  right,  excepting  only  the  pivot  men, 
and  the  right  sections  face  to  the  left,  except  the  pivot  men..,, 
they  then  receive  the  words  as  follows,  and  execute  them  : 

Mark  time. 

Sections ».»*to  the  centre  of  half  j)Uitoons.„Anward 
face. 

To  the  front,.,. in  column„„march, 

Mark  time, 

l^g.  1.  plate  IV.  represents  the  sections  faced  to  the  ce^itre 
of  half  platoons. 

Fig.  2.  plate  IV.  represents  the  half  platoons  advancing  in 
two  columns  of  four  in  front,  in  which  position  they  are  brought; 
to  mark  time. 

Fig.  3.  plate  IV.  represents  the  sections  as  about  to  form 
front  by  the  new  method,  that  is  by  quarter  facing  outivardy  all 
but  the  pivot  man  of  the  front  rank  of  each  section.  It  will  be 
perceived  that  the  rear  rank  men  of  the  company  form  now  the 
two  interior  ranks  in  file,  and  the  front  rank  men  form  the  two 
exterior  ranks,  so  that  the  two  men  who  form  the  actual  centre 
of  each  front  rank  in  column,  belong  to  the  rear  rank  in  line  ; 
and  they  must  move  accordingly  when  the  rest  move  obliquely 


||78  I^IRST  PRINCIPIXS   OF 

into  their  posiiions  ;  this  being  an  outward  instead  of  an  inward 
diagonal  movement ;  the  follov/ing  are  the  words  of  command  : 

Take    care    to  form  front   by  an  osLiquE  move- 
ment. 

Upon  the  centre  of  half  platoons.,,  frontfoimi. 
Outward,,.Jialf  face, 
Mafrch„„dress„„halt. 

As  soon  as  the  drill  of  double  ranks  shall  have  been  gone 
hrough,  and  those  diagonal  movements  are  well  practised,  lead- 
ing by  the  oblique  movement  into  every  evolution,  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  pivots  and  guides  ;  the  men  being  able  to  execute 
these,  are  competent  to  enter  into  the  battalion,  and  partake  in 
the  enlarged  application  of  these  principles  ;  which  may  be  done 
when  the  battalion  is  manoeuvred  without  arms. 

The  morning  drills  of  those  now  exercised  should  be  the 
manual  exercise  ;  to  begin  with  the  firing  motions,  with  a 
•wooden  stopper  for  a  flint.  The  first  and  last  motions  should 
be  those  of  firing. 

Firing  and  taking  aim  must  be  a  particular  exercise. ...and 
must  be  taught  with  ball  and  by  shooting  at  a  target,  at  given 
distances,  so  as  to  find  the  range  of  the  shot  and  the  level. 

The  principles  laid  down  being  completely  executed  in  suc- 
cessive drills,  must  now  be  varied  every  day,nevcr  commencing 
with  the  same  exercise  ;  after  lyiarking  tirne,  facing y  ivheelin^, 
and  stefifiing  out  the  firofier  length  of  tivofeet,  have  become  a 
habit  uniform  and  correct,  and  the  company  capable  of  perforna- 
ing  them  in  double  ranks. 

The  exercises  may  be  varied  so  as  to  admit  of  an  infinite 
diversity  of  changes  of  front,  flank,  formations  of  sections, 
moving  in  different  dispositions  at  the  same  time  ;  every  thing 
done  by  such  movements  now  properly  assumes  the  name  of 
evolution. 

It  must  be  observed  with  regard  to  the  positions  of  officers  in 
ftlatoouf  half  filatoouy  or  sectioriy  whenever  an  officer  leads  either, 
that,  contrary  to  the  old  method,  the  place  of  him  who  com- 
mands any  of  these  component  parts  of  battalion,  is  on  the  right 
and  front  of  his  command.  Supernumerary  subalterns,  either 
tak^  pQSt  on  the  left  or  rear. 


MILITARY   DliSCIPlINE.  79 


CHAP.  XL 


EVOLUTIONS. 


1.  Evolutions  are  the  movements  of  a  single  corps 
either  for  the  purpose  of  taking  a  new  position  in  order  of  battle, 
or  a  new  order  of  depth  or  formation,  in  the  line  or  on  a  march. 
The  purpose  of  discipline  is  to  teach  the  method  of  executing 
evolutions  in  a  proper  manner ;  and  it  is  essential  to  every 
evolution,  that  it  shall  be  executed  upon  the  best  received  prin« 
ciples,  and  these  are  best  which  effect  good  order,  directness, 
precision ;  whicl)  cover  the  least  space,  and  occupy  the  least 
time  in  the  operation,  without  creating  any  unnecessay  fatigue. 
All  evolutions,  though  executed  by  a  single  corps  upon  princi- 
ples which  are  confined  to  itself,  must  in  their  design  and  pur- 
pose as  well  as  in  their  execution,  have  reference  to  their  con- 
nexion and  dependence  on  other  corps.  Thus  one  battalion 
may  form  a  column  in  the  order  of  attack,  that  is  an  evolution 
to  form  column  ;  another  battalion  may  at  the  same  instant 
throw  back  a  wing  or  half  wing  upon  a  menaced  flank,  this  may 
be  executed  by  the  evolution  of  the  echellon  ;  these  two  evo- 
lutions make  but  one  manoeuvre  ;  and  whatever  may  be  the 
number  of  corps  which  move  at  the  same  moment  under  a 
given  order,  each  distinct  corps  will  perform  an  evolution, 
while  the  whole  execute  a  manoeuvre.  But  the  wings  of  the 
same  army  may  perform  different  manoeuvres,  and  in  such 
cases  it  has  been  usual  to  give  to  such  movements  the  tiile  of 
the  grand  manauvre.  These  explanations  of  the  terras  will 
enable  us  to  proceed  with  more  confidence  in  the  knowlege  oi 
what  we  are  about. 

The  drills  through  which  we  have  passed  are  to  be  considered 
only  as  the  means  to  acquire  a  due  knowlege  of  the  mechanical 
practice  of  military  movements. ...the  habit  of  executing  them  by 
any  number  of  men  in  the  same  time  and  in  a  proper  manner 
-,.atid  a  thorough  knowlege  of  the  language  used  in  military 


.80  FIRST   PRINCIPLES    OF 

exercises.  The  instructor  who  fails  to  teach  the  meaning  of 
the  words  as  well  as  to  put,  the  men  in  mo|^on,  leavrrs  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  his  duty  undone.  Every  soldier  should  know  the 
meaning  and  use  of  every  step  he  takes,  as  well  as  the  sailor 
should  know  the  name  and  use  of  every  rope  in  a  ship. 

Evolutions  are  simple  and  compound,  and  in  this  respect  are 
often  confounded  with  manoeuvres.  A  simple  evolution  is  when 
a  Avhole  corps  moves  in  one  manner  in  a  direction  ordered  ;  a 
compound  evolution  is  when  a  corps  moves  to  one  point  by  two 
different  forms  of  evolution. 

All  evolutions  are  to  be  performed  by  at  least  two  ranks,  or 
files  two  deep  ;  and  they  should  be  practised  in  three  and  four 
deep.  The  principles  being  the  same,  the  only  difference  con- 
sists in  the  manner  of  forming  the  ranks  of  more  than  two 
deep  ;  which  cannet  be  difficult  when  the  principles  in  this  work 
are  well  understood. 

The  simplest  evolutions,  and  those  of  the  greatest  use  and 
variety,  and  which  afford  the  greatest  facilities  for  manoeuvre 
and  change  of  front,  flank,  or  position,  are  the  echellons.  By 
these  columns  are  formed  or  reduced,  wings  are  advanced  or 
thrown  back,  new  alignments  taken  up,  countermarches  exe- 
cuted, and  an  enemy  deceived  both  as  to  the  number  of  the 
force,  and  the  purposes  proposed  by  particular  movements,  as 
they  afford  the  facilities  of  support  without  disorder,  at  any  re- 
quired point. 

Next  to  the  echellon,  the  column,  which  affords  a  like  variety 
to  the  formation  and  reduction,  or  the  display  of  whieh  the 
principle  of  the  echellon  is  an  excellent  auxiliary  and  introduc- 
tion. 

To  accustom  men  to  move  in  every  required  manner,  (and 
there  is  no  poss?.ble  manner  in  which  it  may  not  be  required  to 
move,)  the  movements  in  echellons  should  assume  every  possi- 
ble variety... .they  should  commence  with  the  direct  or  perpen- 
dicular echellons  ;  and  the  echellons  formed,  should  be  marched, 
faced  to  the  left,  so  that  the  left  of  platoons  should  be  the  front, 
faced  to  the  right  about,  so  as  to  give  the  opposite  direction.... 
wheeled  upon  the  right  and  left  so  as  to  present  different  fronts 
....the  wing  that  was  thrown  back  advanced. ...and  both  wings 
advanced,  the  centre  thrown  back, ...and  t^c  conlrary....wedge8 


MIXITAHY   DISCIPLINE.  fii 

and  sheers  of  the  ancients  are  thus  formed. ...crosses,  squarcsy 
of  the  niodern  form. ...and  the  practice  should  go  to  teach  pla* 
toons  to  take  different  directions,  and  while  retaining  each  pla- 
toon complete,  the  order  of  the  whole  should  be  restored,  by 
a  general  command  to  form  lint,  column  or  echcllon,  on  a 
given  platoon. ...so  that  each  officer  with  a  platoon  should  then 
take  the  command,  and  march  it  to  his  position  in  the  most 
direct  and  best  military  manner. 

Another  exercise  of  the  evolution  drill  should  be  to  teack  the 
platoons  to  disperse  as  if  thrown  into  disorder,  and  to  rally  at  a 
signal. ...a  course  of  exercise  of  the  greatest  importance,  but 
which  no  system  has  touched  upon  as  elementary. 

The  elementary  discipline  being  confined  to  the  acquisition 
of  those  principles  which  go  into  the  movements  of  the  batta- 
lion, should  be  the  same  throughout  the  largest  armies  ;  a 
perfect  method  of  unfolding  and  countermarching  corps,  the 
flexibility  of  evolution,  the  udoption  at  ever/  instant  of  that 
evolution  which  is  best  adapted  to  the  ground  upon  which  the 
operations  are  made  ;  ease  and  celerity  in  passing  the  obstacles 
with  which  the  ground  may  fee  incumbored,  or  the  attack  to  be 
made  or  resisted. ...are  the  objects  to  be  familiarly  attained.  If 
an  officer  feels  k  want  of  a  due  knowlege  of  these  principlesj 
and  every  one  who  has  not  had  experience  must,  the  necessity 
of  beginning  well  and  going  through  with  the  elementary 
principles,  and  acquiring  them  with  earnest  assiduity,  will  be 
obvious. 

To  discriminate  between  the  two  classes  of  commands,  those 
in  battalion  given  by  the  superior  officer  are  expressed  by 
SMALL  CAPITALS. ...these  words  must  b.e  understood  as  repeated 
by  each  company  officer,  and  followed  by  those  commands 
which  arG  necessary  to  their  execution  by  each  company,  and 
are  expressed  in  Italic  letters. 

It  now  remains  to  render  familiar  the  different  modes  of 
changing  front ;  the  use  of  guides  of  evolution,  in  determining 
with  accuracy  the  new  line  of  formation  by  echellon....ihe  for- 
mation and  display  of  the  column. ...and  the  most  improved  me- 
thods of  forming  and  reducing  columns  of  attack,  with  one  or 
more  Jines,  and  the  method  of  retreat  in  order  of  battle 

M 


9d  riRST  PKINCIPXES  OF 

§  2.  ECHELLONS. 

The  perpendicular  or  direct  echellon,  is  described  in  Chap. 
VIII.  §  3  ;  and  the  half  wheels  in  Chap.  VIII.  §  7,  describe  the 
c'chellons  of  the  oblique  order. 

The  following  is  an  example  of  the  perpendicular  echellon 
with  the  centre  platoon  advanced,  and  the  wings  thrown  back  ; 
this  may  be  accomplished,  by  either  of  the  following  words  of 
command,  supposing  the  battalion  to  be  paraded. 

The  battalion  will  form  echellons  of  platoons, 

the  centre  advanced. 
March. 

Centre  platoon—forvjord  march. 

[^Each  platoon  advances  a  number  of  paces  equal  to  the  front 
of  all  the  platoons  on  its  flanks.'] 


Or  a  line  being  formed,  it  is  required  that  they  assume  the 
disposition  without  moving  the  centre  platoon. 

The  battalion  will  form  echellons  on  the  centre 
platoon... .wings  thrown  back. 

Centre  platoon — stand  fast. 

Flank  platoons — right  about  face — march, 

[All  the  platoons  luill  tkrov)  their  guides  to  the  points  ^hich 
they  are  to  occupy  and  move  to  them  at  marktd  time.1 


.    ^ 


1  he  echcUona  aL  c,  e,  bhcw  the  movement  ordered  ;  the  pla- 
toons a,  a,  a,  shew  the  right  wing  as  wheeled  or  marched  :  heads 
of  platoons  and  faced  in  cc4iclIons  to  the  right. 


MILITARY    DISCIPXINE.  ^3 

The  first  of  thes3  dispositions  enables  the  officer  to  advance 
or  hold  back  either  wing.. ..thus,  if  he  chooses  to  advance  the 
left  wing,  he  will  execute  it  by  these  words.. ..and  it  will  display 
the  following  position. 

Take  care  to  advance  the  left  wing  in  echellons 

UPON  THE  centre. 

March. 

Left  platoon,.,  forvoard. 


The  principle  of  the  echellon  may  be  applied,  as  well  to 
throw  back  a  wing,  as  to  form  upon  any  given  platoon.  The 
application  of  the  principle  is  all  that  is  required  in  an  elemen- 
tary work. 

As  soon  as  an  order  is  given  for  a  formation  out  of  the  line  then 
occupied,  the  business  of  the  guides  is  to  take  their  positions  on 
the  points  upon  which  each  platoon  must  rest  in  the  line  moved 
upon,  and  facing  in  the  direction  to  which  the  new  front  is  to  be 
made,  remain  there  until  the  sections  or  platoons  are  about  to 
occupy  their  ground,  when  the  guides  should  face  to  the  pivot 
flank,  and  each  platoon  should  dress  by  the  shoulder  of  the 
guide  or  pivot  on  its  right. 

This  principle  may  be  gradually  extended  to  larger  sections 
but  not  until  the  manoeuvres  begin  to  be    formed   in  double 
ranks ;  because  then  the  guide  taken  from  the  front  rank  does 
not  leave  any  interval,  as  the  rear  rank  man  always  steps  into 
his  place,  and  falls  into  his  own  when  the  guide  resumes  it. 

A  battalion   drawn  up  in  close  order  is  required  to  take  a 
new  alignment,  by  advancing  the  right  wing  sixty  paces  on  a 
platoon  named.  ..the  officers  ar»  all  at  their  stations  ;  the  ser 
jeants  on  the  right  and  left  of  each  company  ;  the  serjeant  on 
the  right  of  the  rear  rank  is  the  covering  serjeant  of  the  platoon 


8*  riRST  P11INCIPI.ES  OY 

officer  of  each  flank,  and  performs  the  function  o\  guide  or  pivot,, 
according  as  the  rie^ht  or  left  advances  ;  in  the  present  move- 
ment the  Serjeant  on  the  right  is  the  guide  of  the  right,  the 
Serjeant  on  the  left  is  the  pivot. 
^  As  soon  as  the  battalion  is  formed,  the  word  mark  tiine  ceases 
as  a  general  word  of  command,  but  the  action  of  marking  time 
commences  with  the  first  word  of  con^mand  for  movement, 
and  must  continue  until  the  word  halt  is  given  ;  the  captains 
will  see  that  it  be  strictly  performed. 

The  order  of  comrnand  corresponding  with  attention  in  the 
drill,  ii  usually  a  ruffie  of  the  drum^  by  an  orderly  drummer  who 
atfends  the  commanding  officer.. ..these  and  similar  directions 
will  be  given  in  a  smaller  letter. 

kufflc-.C/or  attentiron.J 

Battalion  take  care  to  form  a  new  alignment,  by 
advancing  the  right  flank  sixty  paces  in  front 
....movement  by  echellqns  of  platoons  on  the 
third  platoon  from  the  left, 

Guides  to  your  posts. 
Jlfari  time. 

The  major  or  adjutant  on  the  right  moves  to  the  60th  pace 
and  faces  to  the  left  :  the  adjutant  or  serjeant  major,  on  the 
left,  proceeds  to  the  forming  point  of  the  battalion,  and  faces  to 
the  right :  and  the  serjcants  from  each  company  step  out  briskly 
and  dress  in  a  line  with  the  major  and  adjutant, and  then  all  facing 
to  the  third  platoon  from  the  left,  which  is  now  the  wheeling  or 
forming  point ;  in  the  following  diagram, the  original  line  is  mark- 
ed by  a  horizontal  line  of  points  ;  the  platoons  are  wheeled  from 
the  line  upon  their  left  int©  echcllon  ;  the  two  platoons  on  the 
left,  upon  the  word  march,  come  to  the  right  about,  and  move 
to  the  new  alignment  which  is  thrown  back  fiom  their  first  line; 
the  platoons  on  the  right  at  the  same  time  move  to  the  front, 
where  their  guides  are  posted  on  the  new  line,  which  is  described 
by  flags  on  its  :  xtrcmes  ;  they  remain  in  this  position  so  that 
each  company  shall  move  up  to  its  own  guide  :  but  the  compa- 
nies continue  to  mark  tin»e  fiom  the  moment  the  guides  step  out, 
and  they  wait  for  the  word  of  execution. ...which  will  be  cither 
FORWARD;  or  March. 


Zeft  ouarter  fi'heeL 


$5 


\      '•      \     \      <»*' 


t- 


/ 


The  annexed  plate  V.  is  from  the  French  system,  plate  XX. 
and  represents  two  operations  in  which  accuracy  of  formation 
is  assured  by  guides.  Fig.  1.  in  the  upper  division,  represents 
a  battalion  about  to  advance  a  required  distance  in  line,  direct ; 
to  preserve  its  parallelism,  three  guides  are  thrown  into  the 
rear  ©f  the  centre,  perpendicular  to  the  line  of  the  battalion, 
who  dress  by  the  colors,  and  by  a  tree  which  is  in  front  of  the 
line  y.  The  three  guides,  i,  a,  d,  in  the  rear,  are  to  preserve  the 
perpendicular  movement  of  the  centre,  and  two  on  the  flanks 
dress  by  the  centre,  where  the  colors  are  ;  the  major,  adjutant, 
and  serjeant-major,  aid  in  correcting  the  movements  of  the 
guides  ;  the  major  places  himself  at  k,  and  a  guide  takes  a  posi- 
tion in  front  of  the  colors,  and  facing  round  to  the  battalion 
marks  the  direction  with  the  colors  and  the  three  dressed  guides 
in  the  rear ;  as  the  battalion  advances,  two  or  three  guides  in 
front  advance  successively,  and  facing  to  the  battalion,  dress,  so 
that  as  the  rank  approaches  a  guide,  that  guide  hastens  to  the 
front,  an.d  takes  a  position  twenty,  forty,  or  fifty  paces  beyond 
that  which  is  farthest  ;  e  represents  the  serjeant-major  attend- 
ing to  the  dressing  of  the  line  ;  i  the  adjutant  on  horseback  f 
//are  the  guides  which  dress  with  the  colors. 

Fig.  2.  the  advance  of  the  same  battalion  presents  it  as  about 
to  advance  the  left  wing  ;  /  and  g  represent  where  are  posted 
the  major  and  adjutant  as  the  flank  guides,  dressed  with  the 


83  FIRST    PaiftfCIPlBS    OP 

colors,  the  moving  guides  having  resumed  tlieir  posts  on  the 
flanks  of  the  battalion... .the  movement  now  required  is  to  ad- 
vance the  left  wing  upon  a  new  alignment.  The  right  there, 
fore  is  now  the  /livot  flank,  and  the  guides  ef  platoon  are  thrown 
forward  from  the  left  of  platoons  :  as  soon  as  the  word  is  given, 
to  advance  the  left  in  line,  the  a(!jutant  gallops  to  the  point  that 
advances,  and  faces  towards  the  right,  the  major  on  the  right 
faces  towards  the  adjutant  on  the  left,  the  guides  of  platoons 
move  out  and  dress  by  the  major  and  adjutant,  facing  to  the 
pivoi  flank  which  is  now  the  right,  and  the  whole  move  into 
Jine  as  before. 

In  the  lower  division  of  this  plate  is  Fig.  3.  which  is  from 
plate  XXII.  of  the  French  system.  The  principle  of  the  move- 
ment by  the  guides  is  here  the  same.  Fig.  \,  dis  the  first  po- 
sition. Fig.  2,  shews  an  advance  of  the  left  wing,  as  in  the  pre- 
ceding figures,  c  and  g-  shew  the  guides,  and  i  and  g  the  guides 
in  the  oblique  alignment,  /  the  position  of  the  major.... ^  shews 
the  serjeant-major  dressing  the  line..../  the  adjutant  directing 
the  movement  in  front  into  the  new  alignment.. ..c  is  a  line  pa- 
rallel to  the  second  movement  or  oblique  line. 

§  3.  The  plate  No.  VI.  exhibits  the  application  of  the  line  of 
science  to  several  useful  purposes,  that  is  what  is  denominatecl 
the  loose  order  of  movement ;  which  instead  of  wheeling  ranks, 
quarter  faces  the  files,  moving  either  in  Jile  or  line  or  column. 
Fig.  1,  Plat©  VI.  represents  a  company  in  the  order  of  three 
deep  faced  to  the  right  and  wheeling  by  the  head  of  the  platoon 
to  the  left.  The  guide  leads  at  c,  the  captain  on  the  wheeling 
side  at  A,  an  officer  at  c  directs  the  perpendicular  line  of  the 
right.  The  officers  and  sub-officers  are  at  their  stations  on  the 
right  of  the  column,  the  captain  occasionally  at  their  head. 

Having  reached  a  point  at  which  they  must  wheel  to  the  left, 
they  receive  the  command,  and  the  officer  at  c  directs  the  wheel- 
ing. Having  half  wheeled  to  the  left,  and  reached  a  further 
point,  they  are  wheeled  into  platoon  in  the  loose  order  instead  of 
ranks  of  files  at  fig.  2. 

Fig.  3,  Plate  VI.  represents  the  platoon  moving  from  a  to  a,  in 
column  or  head  ot  platoon  in  front  ;  the  dotted  lines  on  the  rear 
shew  the  original  position  of  the  column  ;  the  darkened  figures, 
the  men  formed  by  a  half  face  to  the  left.. ..the  guide  at  the  head 


MILITARY   DISCIPLINE.  S7 

of  the  column  pursues  the  line  marked  for  him  ;  the  new  line 
perpendicular  to  the  left  of  the  old,  is  formed  by  the  movements 
of  the  single  files,  not  directly  after  the  guide  but  on  oblique  line^ 
to  the  left.  The  officers  and  covering  rank  are  on  the  right  of 
the  movement,  as  that  side  is  the  rear ;  they  are  seen  in  the  rear 
of  the  new  line. 

The  arrow  in  the  plate  is  reversexl,  but  it  way  serve  to  shew 
that  the  movement  may  be  made  in  that  direction  also. 

§  4.  THE  COLUMN  OF  ATTACK. 
The  column  contains  the  great  secret  of  modern  tactics^  it 
is  the  most  certain  lever  in  the  hands  of  a  skilful  (;fiiccr....its 
advantages  are  found  in  its  comprehending  a  large  number 
in  a  small  compass,  for  various  ends ;  first,  in  order  to  be 
displayed  upon  any  required  point  at  the  moment  that  it  may 
be  most  effective.  Second,  that  it  deceives  an  enemy  as  to 
your  force  and  intention,  an  example  of  which  was  seen  in  the 
battle  of  Jena.  Third,  that  the  evolutions  of  a  close  column 
executed  upon  ground  of  small  extent,  are  less  liable  to  error 
and  better  adapted  to  correct  faults,  than  any  other  disposition. 
Fourth,  they  render  the  movements  of  an  army  simple  and 
easy.  Fifth,  that  there  be  an  equal  column  in  reserve^  at  sus- 
(ai7iing  distance. 

Columns  of  attack  with  the  bayonet  may  be  composed  of 
battalions  of  500,  800,  or  1000  men  ;  and  two  or  more  of  these 
columns  may  form  a  common  front  in  column,  or  they  may  be 
displayed  into  several  columns  in  echellon  to  a  centre  column 
advanced  or  to  a  flank  column ;  or  so  disposed  that  two  flank 
columns  sustaining  one,  may  advance  upon  the  charge  of  the 
advanced  column  and  display  upon  the  flank  of  an  enemy. 

It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  use  of  the  column  for  action,  is 
now  preferred  by  a  formation  on  the  centre  ;  although  forming 
the  column  upon  a  flank  platoon  or  battalion,  is  not  laid  aside, 
because  the  position  of  the  enemy  may  render  a  flank  the  most 
proper ;  but  as  a  general  rule,  wherever  there  is  a  choice  to  be 
made,  the  column  should  always  be  formed  on  the  centre,  and 
reduced  by  the  flanks. 

The  dispositions  of  the  column,  as  laid  down  in  Steuben's  tract, 
are  known  ;  the  principles  are  the  same,  and  the  only  variation 
is  in  the  application  of  guides^  the  quick  fiace  as  the  only  pace 


88  MBST  pitiNCii^Es  or 

for  mov«mcnt ;  forming  column  at  slow  march  is  well  enough 
for  a  funeral  but  never  for  service  ;  and  in  order  to  escape  the 
derision  of  men  of  experience,  it  should  not  be  permitted  on  any 
occasion.  No  man  who  enters  into  the  spirit  of  military  disci- 
pline will  suffer  it. 

The  elementary  exercises  of  the  column  should  begin  with 
the  company,  divided  into  half  platoons  and  sections  or  fourths 
of  platoons. 

The  company  being  drawn  up  as  usual,  in  the  usual  order, 
receives  the 

Rufflc-ffor  attention. J 
Take  cake  to  form  column  in  open  order  upon  the 
right  half  platoon,  right  in  front. 

Left  half  platoon — right  face. 
Right  quarter  face — march. 
Front  face — halt. 

The  same  movement  by  quarter  platoons  formed  on  the  left. 
Take  care  to  form  column  of  quarter  platoons... 

LEFT  IN  front. 

Ruffie — ffor  a  caution. J 
Mark  time. 

Right  tections — left  face. 
March. 

Left  quarter fuce—tnardi. 
Front — halt. 


§  5.  After  a  front  line  has  given  a  certain  quantity  of  fire  ;  or 
that  an  impre&sion  has  been  premeditatedly  made  by  the  tirail- 
leurs or  riflemen  in  front,  to  cover  the  movement  of  the  second 
line  as  a  fresh  corps,  to  bring  them  to  the  charge  of  bayonet, 
tbe  following  will  convey  an  idea  of  tlie  two  operations  advanc- 
ing and  retreating  in  column  by  the  centre  of  battalions. 

First  line,  centre  half  platoons  thrown  back. 

Sbcond  line  advancing  in  columns  formed  upon  the  centre. 


MILITARY  DISCKPLINE,  89 


- 

The  retreating  line  acts  differently  from  the  advancing- :  for 
the  same  reason  that  the  echequier  of  platoons  is  exploded, 
and  as  a  retreat  adnpits  of  no  los«  of  time  in  formation,  when  the 
first  line  indicates  by  a  movement  on  its  right  or  left  the  purpose 
to  retreat  ;  the  second  line  will  immediately  form  columns  on 
the  centre  of  battalions  ;  meanwhile  the  first  line  retires  in  per- 
fect order,  and  when  it  reaches  the  second  line  now  formed  in 
columns,  the  first  line  throws  back  the  two  central  half  platoons 
of  each  battalion  in  order  to  pass  the  columns,  the  first  line  is  now 
to  become  the  second,  and  assumes  a  front  towards  the  enemy, 
forms  columns  to  that  front,  and  is  ready  to  support  the  second 
now  in  the  position  of  the  first. 

The  second  line  being  in  column  when  the  first  moved 
through  the  centre,  will  act  as  ordered ;  it  will  cither  reduce 
the  column  and  display  the  line,  or  it  will  advance  in  column 
and  display,  as  may  be  ordered  ;  the  dispositions  to  the  eye  in 
this  case  are  apparently  similar  ;  the  difference  consists  in  this, 
that  in  retreat,  the  moving  line  preserves  that  order  and  passes 
with'only  throwing  back  two  half  platoons,  while  the  posted 
second  line  forms  column  on  its  position. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  the  advapce,  the  second  line  forms  and 
moves  in  column  to  the  front  and  through  the  centre  of  the  bat- 
talion of  the  first  line^  which  remain  displayed  in  line  only 
with  its  two  central  half  platoons  thrown  back  to  admit  the 
passage  of  the  second  line  in  column.. ..the  following  fig;ure 
exhibits  the  retreating  first  lin^  : 


^0  riRSt  1*A1NCIPLB8   01 


ia 


The  passage  of  lines,  by  alternate  platoons,  which  Is  laid 
clown  in  the  French  regulations  of  1791,  and  adopted  from 
thence  by  the  English,  has  been  superceded,  in  the  French 
system,  wherever  the  movement  is  in  the  face  of  an  enemy. 
The  exceptions  to  the  old  method  are  these :  the  line  retiring,  if 
in  retreat,  is  too  much  broken  ;  and  the  single  company  is  not 
sufficiently  strong  to  sustain  a  sudden  attack  ;  the  second  line 
in  like  manner  loses  its  compactness,  which  is  essential  to 
repel  the  charge  by  being  open  at  several  points  to  admit  the 
passage  of  alternate  companies  ;  the  movements  cannot  be 
made  in  good  order  when  in  such  small  bodies  and  under  so 
many  detached  commands,  and  the  loss  of  a  platoon  or  even  an 
officer  of  one  of  these  detached  parts,  may  endanger  the  whole. 

The  method  adopted  obviates  all  these  objections  ;  instead  of 
echequier  of  companies,  that  formation  is  now  coniii^.ed  to  bodies 
not  less  than  a  battalion  ;  that  is  several  battalions  each  main- 
taining its  Una  of  front,  either  in  line  or  column,  may  move  in 
echequier,  but  no  such  movement,  except  for  disciplinary  exer 
cise,  must  be  made  of  any  body  less  than  a  battalion. 

The  movement  of  a  battalion  advancing  in  a  line,  or  retiring 
through  a  second  line,  is  by  column  of  platoons  formed  on  the 
centre  of  the  battalion ;  that  is  the  two  central  half  platoons 
form  the  head  of  the  column,  whether  it  be  a  second  line  ad- 
vancing, from  the  rear  of  the  front  line  posted,  to  charge  bayonet, 
or  retiring  through  the  first  line  to  take  a  new  position  200  yards 
in  the  rear  of  the  first  line. 

These  principles  being  understood,  it  remains  only  to  sup- 
pose several  battalions  formed  in  line  of  battle. 

§  6.  These  ©perations  apply  to  the  largest  bodies  ;  plate  VII. 
annexed,  from  the  Military  Library,  exhiibits  the  formation  of  a 


MILITARY   DISCIPLINE.  &1 

column  of  eight  battalions,  of  two  platoons  in  front ;  formed 
ppon  the  fourth  battalion. 

The  seventh  plate  is  given  (thongh  it  properly  belongs  to  the 
evolutions  of  the  line")  with  a  view  to  illustrate  the  various  appli- 
cations on  the  largest  scale  of  numbers,  to  the  same  principles 
developed  in  the  exercises  of  a  company.  This  plate  represents 
a  line  of  eight  battalions.  It  is  required  to  form  the  whole  into 
a  single  column,  right  in  front,  \vith  a  view  to  such  a  movenvent 
as  was  made  hy  the  king  of  Prussia  at  Ro^dac/i  and  Koli?i  ;  the 
object  in  view  by  the  miOvement,andthe  ground,  determines  the 
formation  to  be  on  tjie  second  half  wing  of  the  fourth  battalion. 
The  extent  of  ground  covered  by  such  a  body,  determines  the 
mode  of  movement.  The  oi  der  is  issued  through  an  aid  to  the 
commander  of  each  battalion  on  the  right  and  left,  which  desig- 
nates t\\Q  front  they  are  to  preserve,  and  the  battalion  on  which 
they  are^o  form  ;  the  officers  on  the  left  know  they  must  pro- 
ceed to  the  right,  and  in  an  obiique  direction  to  the  rear  of  the 
fixed  battalion,  they  calculate  the  depth  of  the  column  and  the 
angle  it  forms  with  their  then  line,  and  half  wheeling  their 
quarter  battalions  on  the  right,  face  to  the  right,  and  march  as 
is  seen  on  the  left  division  of  the  line.  The  right  battalions 
also  throv/-  their  quarter  battalion*  into  echellon,  by  a  wheel  on 
their  right  and  face  to  tb.e  left. 

The  guides  posted  in  a  line  betwcee  the  two  trees,  determine 
the  prolongation  ef  the  column.  Manoeuvres  of  this  kind  are 
intended  to  prepare  for  new  dispositions. ...or  for  a  nciarch. 

In  this  plate  the  eight  battalions  are  in  line,  and  the  order  i^ 
^iven  to  form  column  two  platoons  in  front;  the  right  battalion 
to  lead. 

The  officer  in  command  issues  the  following  order,  which  is 
taken  down  in  writing  by  an  aid  for  the  right,  and  by  another 
for  the  left,  who  proceed  rapidly,  and  deliver  the  order  to  each 
commander  of  battalion. 

The  line  will  form  column,  upon  the  third  anp 

FOURTH    platoons    OF    THE    FOURTH    BATTALION. 

The  trees  in  front  and  rear  serve  as  guides  of  alignment  or 
formation  of  the  column  ;  and  the  commanders  of  battalions,  as 
fast  as  they  receive  the  order,  throw  their  several  battalions  into 
the  disposition  best  adapted  to  reach  the  point  upon  wh^ch  they 
must  form  in  the  shortest  time^ 


92  riKST   PKINCIPLES    Oi 

The  officer  of  the  battalion  repeats  the  order,  aud  follows  ii, 
thus.... 

Tie  battalion — left  face. 

By  double  platoons — to  the  right  incline. 

Foruard-'-marcb. 

Each  battalion  to  the  right  pursues  the  same  course,  only 
making  its  route  to  the  right  of  the  preceding  battalion. 

The  battalions  on  the  left  face  to  the  right,  and  pursue  a  cor- 
responding course  to  the  rear  of  the  fourth  platoon ;  the  proper 
officers  attending  to  the  directness  of  the  movement  and  the 
cbrrectness  of  the  formation, 

§  7.  THE  RALLY. 

No  system  of  discipline  has  laid  down  a  method  of  accustom- 
ing troops  to  retrieve  the  disorder  of  a  sudden  charge,  or  to  rally 
after  being  broken.  The  occasion  occurs  in  almost  every  close 
action,  but  no  elementary  instruction  has  made  the  occurrence 
familiar....The  following  method  is  the  result  of  a  very  success- 
ful drill  practice  by  the  author. 

After  the  company  has  acquired  the  habit  of  being  moved  in 
cchellon  with  some  dexterity,  move  the  several  sections,  say  of 
8  or  12  files,  in  single  rank,  in  different  directions,  wheel  one 
to  the  rig/it,  face  another  to  the  right,  ivheel  a  third  to  the  left, 
quarter  ivheel  a  fourth,  bring  a  fifth  to  the  rightabout,  and  march 
them  so  that  they  shall  all  be  in  apparent  disorder.. ..then  select 
a  section,  say  the  third,  and  give  the  word  : 

The  whole. ...take   care    to  form   columx    on  th« 

THIRD    section. 
[Care  then  is  taken  to  move  the  third  section  to  the  front  required^  and 
each  leader  of  section  moves  his  oiun  section  up  t»  its  proper  place  in 
front  or  rear  of  the  third  section.'} 
To  rally,  when  the  ranks  are  broken,  pursue  the  same  course, 
always  apprising  them  that  at  a  certain  beat  of  the  drum  they 
must  rally,  when  the  sections  are  all  thrown  into  the  different 
directions  as  above.. ..beat  a  retreat  and  give  the  word  disjierse^ 
the  ranks  break,  and  while  retiring  to  their  quarters,  the  rally  Is 
beaten... .the  platoon  or  section  leader  should  previously  arrange 
some  signal  to  be  known  to  the  men  of  his  section,  a  handker- 
chief or  the  like,  to  which  they  should  rally. 

Afi  soon  as  the  drum  beats  the  rally,  the  leaders  of  sections 
or  platoons  should  place  themselves  so  as  to  display  their  sig- 
nals, and  each  section  vyrould  then  fall  in,  the  w  hole  facing  upon 
hie  first  man  posted  by  the  officer,  in  whatever  direction  formed  : 


MILLTAHY   DISCIPLINK.  9o 

and  as  soon  j^s  formed  in  section,  they  should  move  so  as  to 
form  column  in  the  same  way  as  in  the  preceding  movements. 
This  may  be  diversified  greatly  to  the  pleasure  of  the  soldiers, 
and  military  men  will  discern  the  utility  of  the  habit  thus  ac- 
quired Whenever  troops  are  brought  to  action. 
§  8.  FORMING  COMPANY. 

In  §  1,  of  Chap.  IX.  the  mode  of  forming  by  a  wheel 
outward  of  double  files  is  described.  The  present  purpose 
is  to  describe  the  formation  of  a  company  with  its  officers  of 
both  kinds  attached,  in  the  order  in  which  they  must  go  into 
the  battalion. 

The  order  of  two  or  three  in  depth  makes  no  difference  as  to 
the  positions  of  any  of  the  officers.  The  following  general  rule 
should  be  constantly  observed. 

Wh;atever  may  be  the  position  of  the  company  in  line  or  in 
column,  the  captain  should  be  posted  at  ail  times  on  the  right, 
or  at  the  head  of  his  company  ;  and  even  when  the  left  may  be 
in  front,  the  capiain  should  still  keep  his  position  on  the  right  of 
the  advanced  front.. ..The  motive  for  placing  the  captain  and 
other  commissioned  officers  on  the  left  flank  of  the  company  or 
platoon,  was  because  the  ordination  made  the  left  the  pivot  un- 
der the  ancient  discipline,  and  the  captain  acted  as  the  guide  in 
those  formations  which  are  now  performed  by  pivots  and  guides 
of  platoon.... But  these  modern  and  useful  contrivances  leave  the 
captain  and  other  platoon  officers  free  from  othjer  duties,  and 
they  always  will  have  ample  employment  beside;  on  the  march, 
in  manoeuvre,  and  in  action. 

The  corporals  are  comprehended  in  the  rank  and  file,  and 
there  should  be  one  on  each  flank  of  the  front  rank,  the  other 
two  itiay  be  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  half  companies  or  half 
platoons  ;  or  on  the  left  of  the  rear  rank. 

The  company  drawn  up,  ranked  and  sized,  sliould,  before  any 
movement  with  the  battalion,  be  to'd  off,  and  distributed  in  equal 
portions  for  manoeuvre,  the  half  company  or  half  platoon, 
Should  be  subdivided  each  into  two  parts  or  sections,  so  that  each 
company  shall  have  eight  established  equal  parts. 

The  company  in  close  order,  will  then  be  placed  in  this  posi- 
tion, the  strong  lines  represent  the  front  of  the  ranks, 

A  a  a  A 

A  I  I  r  -|  1  I  r—  I  A 

a 


94  FIRST   PRINCIPLES    OF 

The  captain  on  the  right,  covered  by  an  expert  Serjeant  in 
the  rear  rank. 

The  first  lieutenant  on  the  left  flank  of  the  front  rank  covered 
by  an  expert  Serjeant  in  the  rear  rank. 

The  second  lieutenant  and  ensign  in  a  supernumerary  rank 
at  three  paces  from  the  rear  rank,  a  Serjeant  on  their  right  and 
left  in  the  same  rank,  the  four  at  equal  distance  from  each  other. 
Where  the  subalterns  are  more  or  less  in  number  they  must  be 
distributed  equally. 

The  men  will  stand  in  rank  so  that  on  bending  the  elbow  on 
either  side  they  each  touch  the  man  on  that  side  ;  the  space 
each  man  usually  occupies  in  front  is  22  inches,  2  inches  are 
allowed  for  the  ease  of  movement;  so  that  the  front  of  each 
file  is  equal  to  one  military  pace  of  24  inches. 

In  the  depth  of  the  ranks  in  close  order,  the  heel  of  the  front 
rank  man  stands  two  feet  from  the  toe  of  the  next  rank,  so  that 
taking  the  depth  of  the  man  to  be  1 6  inches,  and  his  knapsack  6 
inches,  the  single  man  will  occupy  exactly  22  inches  in  depth 
with  the  allowance  of  two  inches  for  movement.  So  that  a 
single  man  in  military  order  may  be  computed  as  occupying  two 
feet  square. 

In  open  order  the  ranks  will  stand  two  paces  apart  more  than 
in  close  order  ;  and  the  officers  will  be  posted  as  annexed  : 


13  A 


a  a  a  a 

The  ranks  may,  for  inspection  or  other  purposes,  take  open 
order  at  four  or  more  paces  distant,  at  command. 

The  supernumerary  rank  four  paces  in  the  rear  of  the  com- 
pany in  close  order,  is  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  rear 
ranks  well  dressed ;  and  to  render  assistance  of  various  kinds 
in  action.  When  marching  in  close  colun^n  this  supernume- 
rary rank,  if  there  be  not  room  on  the  flanks  of  its  own  com- 
pany in  the  column,  continues  in  the  rear,  but  closed  up  to  the 
same  distance  as  other  ranks.  The  Serjeants  of  the  rear  rank 
in  open  order  must  attend  to  the  dressing  of  that  rank  and  move 
on  the  rear  if  necessary 

§  9.  THE  BATTALION. 

The  ordination  of  the  distribution  of  companies  in  the  battalion 
rn  the  generality  of  systems,  present^  such  absurdities  as  could 


IdlLlTA^^    DISCIPLINE.  95 

hardly  be  expected  from  reasonable  men.  The  prevailing  rfotion 
that  governs  the  distribution  of  companies,  is  an  imaginary  im- 
portance ^attached  to  the  position  of  a  company,  deduced  from 
the  analogy  of  the  position  of  battalions  in  the  line  of  battle.  But 
that  may  be  real  and  infiportant  in  relaiion  to  the  distribution 
of  battalions  or  colunins,  which  cannot  be  of  any  moment  in 
the  position  of  companies  either  in  line  or  column  ;  simplicity 
should  therefore  supercede  trifling  vagaries. 

The  order  of  distribution  of  companies  should  be  by  a  fixed^ 
simple  and  rational  rule  ;  that  of  numbering  from  right  to  left, 
and  the  battalion  consisting  of  eight  platoons,  tlic  1,  2,  3,  4, 
should  form  the  right  wing  or  half  battalion.  The  5,  6,  7,  8? 
the  left ;  or  if  there  must  be  a  variation  from  the  simple  order, 
let  it  be  1,  3,  5,  7,  right  wing;  2,4,  6,  8,  the  left  wing.  The 
companies  here  shall  be  placed  in  a  numerical  order  :  and  the 
following  is  the  ordination  of  the  battalion  with  its  staff.  To 
avoid  confusion  by  a  multitude  of  arbitrary  characters,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  state  here  that  the  order  cf  every  company  in  a 
battalion  in  close  order,  conforms  to  the  preceding  view  of  the 
company  ;  and  so  in  open  order  every  company  presents  its 
officers,  commissioned  and  non-commissioned,  in  the  same 
positions  as  in  open  order  of  company  ;  so  that  the  views  of  tho 
battalion  to  be  here  given  exhibit  only  the  positions  of  the  regi- 
mental staff,  music,  pioneers,  in  close  and  open  order. 

BATTALION    IN   CLOSE    ORDER. 
,  ,  .  Pioneers. 
.  .  .  Staff. 
DrumsOoOoOo  D  D  D  D 

n  Lt.Col.  1st  D  MajoK 

D  Colonel, 
n  2d  Major. 

BATTALION    IN    OPEN   ORDER. 

Adjt,  D  n  Serjt.  Major. 

1-t.  Col.   Q       fffi       n  l8t  Major. 
D  Colonel. 
n  SdMaior 


^^  FIRST   PfilXCIPXES    Ot 

The  artificers  which  should  be  attached  to  every  regiment^ 
march  in  fiont  when  there  is  one  corps  only  in  column  ;  when 
the  battalion  is  in  close  order  for  exercise  or  line  of  battle,  they 
arc  in  the  rear,  together  with  the  subaltern  staff,  as  paymaster, 
surgeon,  quarter  master,  &c. ;  when  the  battalion  parades  in 
open  order  for  inspection,  the  musicians  are  all  formed  on  the 
right,  or  in  two  divisions  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  battalion  ; 
in  this  order  the  pioneers  parade  still  farther  on  the  right  of  the 
n^iusic  ;  if  the  music  is  all  on  the  right,  the  pioneers  parade  on 
the  left. 

The  platooT)  officers  are  paraded  four  paces  in  front  of  their 
companies  when  in  open  order  :  as  shewn  in  the  company. 

The  colonel,  when  there  is  only  his  own  regiment,  takes  post 
in  front  equal  to  the  length  of  a  wing  from  the  centre  ;  if  more 
than  his  own  and  the  order  is  line  of  battle,  his  position  is  twenty 
paces  in  the  rear  of  the  centre,  the  lieutenant  colonel  ten  paces 
fro«i  the  centre  of  the  rear  of  the  right  wing  ;  the  first  major  the 
same  distance  from  the  centre  of  the  left ;  the  secohd  major, 
adjutant,  paymaster,  surgeon,  and  mates,  with  the  colonel.  The 
colonel  may  require  the  lieutenant  colonel  to  remain  with  him, 
and  the  majors  to  take  charge  of  the  battalions. 

The  battalion  in  close  order  for  field  exercise  ;  the  colonel  in 
front,  the  lieutenant  colonel  ten  paces  from  the  right  and  in  front 
of  the  right  wing,  the  major  ten  paces  from  the  left.  The  ad- 
jutant as  aid  to  the  colonel  ;  the  serjeant  major  in  the  rear. 

The  colors  on  the  right  of  the  second  wing  in  close  order ;  at 
open  order  advanced  in  a  line  with  the  platoon  officers  four  paces 
in  front.  The  colors  to  be  carried  by  two  ensigns  or  on  a  march 
by  four,  who  relieve  each  other,  and  who  form  the  guard  of  the 
colors,  with  four  of  the  most  respectable  senior  Serjeants  of  com- 
panies ;  the  four  ensigns  form  a  rank  with  a  serjeant  on  each 
side,  and  are  covered  by  the  other  scrjcants  in  the  rear  rank. 
In  open  order  the  non-commissioned  qfficers  occupy  the  front 
rank  with  arms  advanced. 

In  column  the  colonel  leads  the  first  wing  or  battalion  ;  the 
lieutenant  colonel  the  second  ;  the  major  in  the  rear,  with  the 
regimental  staff;  the  adjutant  and  serjeant  major  on  the  flanks. 
These  dispositions  are  generally  conformable  to  usage  ;  ex- 
.cepting  that  the  commander  of  platoon  or  company  must  at  all 
time^  be  on  the  right,  whether  the  left  of  the  column  or  the 
j'ight  in  front, 


MILITARY  DISCIPIIN?.  97 

CHAP.  xn. 

THE  MJl^UAL  EXERCISE. 

§  i.  Jb  OR  several  years  the  iDost  important  object  of  military 
discipline  was  suppoi^ed  to  consist  in  the  performance  of  certain 
unmeaning  and  frivolous  motions  with  the  firelock  in  the  hands, 
which  was  called  the  Manual  Exercise  on  that  account.  During 
the  last  ten  years  this  dangerous  error  has  been  in  a  great  measure 
corrected  in  the  general  judgment,  and  it  is  now  perceived  and 
acknowleged,  that  beside  the  acquisition  of  exactness  in  the  hand- 
ling of  the  firelock,  and  loading  and  firing  correctly,  and  with 
skill. ...the  knowlege  of  the  different  parts  of  the  firelock... .the 
name  of  each  part  and  its  use  ;  every  thing  else  of  the  manual 
exercise  is  superfluous,  or  at  best  ornamental  for  parades  only. 

The  manual  exercise  properly  consists  of  two  parts  ;  a  manual 
of  discipline,  and  a  manual  of  parade. 

In  the  manual  of  discipline  should  be  comprehended  all  the 
motions  that  arc  required  under  all  circumstances  in  the  use  of 
the  firelock  for  action.  The  second  part  would  comprehend  the 
first,  together  with  all  those  motions  which  are  necessary  for  a 
parade,  for  guard,  for  marching,  for  convenience,  or  for  show. 

The  only  effectual  parts  of  the  manual,  are  those  which  go 
into  action,  they  are  the  priming,  loading  and  firing,  the  fixing 
and  charging  of  bayonets,  and  the  manner  of  carrying  the  fire- 
lock ;  all  other  motions  are  motions  o^  convenience,  and  therefore 
proper  to  be  observed. ...or  motions  oi  fiarade  or  respect,  which 
may  be  preserved  or  rejected  without  disadvantage.  Among  the 
motions  of  convenience  are  the  slofie,  trails  advanccy  su/ifiortj  the 
secure  and  the  stackmg  orjiling  of  arms  ;  motions  have  been  in 
use  which  are  improper,  such  as  grounding  arms.  It  is  strictly 
in  the  spirit  of  good  discipline,  not  to  accustom  men  to  any 
motions  which  convey  humiliating  ideas  ;  an  American  citizen 
must  disdain  submission  to  any  invader.  The  laying  down  arms 
being  the  last  act  pf  subjection  of  a  vanquished  army,  and  like 
passing  under  the  yoke  among  the  ancients,  has  been  banished, 
from  our  exercise. 

Independent  of  the  policy,  there  is  also  utility  in  rejecting  the 
motions  of  grounding  apd  taking  up  firelocks.  On  service  in  the 
fi'eW  jt  J")  never  proper  nor  useful... .gn  duty  as  ceminels,  it  is  not 


yS  FIRST   PRINCIPLES   OF 

admissible ;  and  as  a  matter  of  prudence  and  economy,it  ought  not 
to  be  suffered.  Iron  acquires  rust  very  rapidly  in  every  part  of  our 
country.     Laying  the  firelock  on  the  moist  earth  or  grass,  is 
therefore  destructive  to  arms  and  to  ammunition.     The  stacking 
of  arms  by  two  contiguous  files  in  the  order  of  two  deep,  or  in 
the  order  of  three  deep,  is  now  the  mode  adopted  ;  stacking  the 
firelocks  of  the  three  is  easy,  by  facing  the  centre  rank  to  the 
right,  and  stepping  w  ith  the  left  foot  six  inches  backward  ;  and 
the  front  rank  coming  to  the  right  about ;  the  firelocks  stand  in 
regular  order  :  they  are  secured  fi  om  moisture,  and  are  easily 
resumed  by  the  members  on  returning  into  the  ranks. 
§  2.  FIRST  DRILL  OF  THE  MANUAL. 
The  drill  of  the  manual  should  comprehend  all  that  is  practi- 
cal in  the  motions  made  in  actual  priming  and  loading,  and  Uie 
carriage  of  the  firelock  in  battalion  ;  and  afterwards  all  that  is 
merely  ornamental.     The  preliminary  drill  with   the  fij  clock 
should  commence  v/ith  the  priming  and  loading. 

The  soldier  having  taken  his  place  in  the  rank  for  drill  with 
ordered  arms,  the  precaution  is  given  : 
Attention  / 
The  soldier  stands  firm,  his  eyes  to  the  front,  his  left  hand 
down  by  his  side,  not  constrained  but  straight ;  his  right  hand 
fingers  on  front  of  the  firelock,  the  but  of  which  is  close  to  his 
right  foot  and  dressed  with  it ;  the  barrel  rests  against  the  right 
shoulder,  the  thumb  of  the  right  hand  behmd  the  barrel,  the 
arm  a  little  bent.. ..and  the  following  motions  are  executed  io  the 
manner  described  : 

1.  Recover  arms. 

3.  Open  pan. 

S.  Handle  cartridge. 

4.  Prime. 

5.  Shut  pan. 
G,  Load. 

7.  Brarv  ramrod. 

8.  Ram  doivn. 

9.  Return  ramrod. 

10.  Make  ready. 

11.  Aim. 

12.  Fire. 

13.  Half  cock. 

1*.  Shoulder  arms. 

15.  Shut  pan. 

16.  Order  arms^ 


MIXITAHY  DISCIPLIICB-  99 

EXPLANATIONS. 
Recoveb  ARMS-.-riyo  motions.. .A.  The  right  arm,  which 
was  somewhat  bent,  is  straightened,  and  the  firelock  is  seized  as 
low  down  as  is  practicable  without  stooping.  2.  The  firelock 
is  brought  briskly  up,  perpendicular  in  front  of  the  right  arnn, 
so  that  the  left  hand  catches  the  stock  at  the  swell,  the  right 
hand  holds  the  handle  or  small  of  the  stock,  the  ramrod  to  the 
front. 

Open  pan....  Three  motions....  1 .  The  firelock  is  now  lowered  to 
the /zorr  or  priming  position,  the  piece  resting  on  the  left  hand, 
the  butt  thrown  by  the  right  side,  so  that  it  rests  about  the  hip, 
with  the  person  of  the  soldier  half  faced  to  the  right.  The 
muzzles  of  the  rank  of  the  same  elevation  will  all  range  to  the 
front ;  on  about  a  level  with  the  top  of  the  head.  2.  As  the  fire- 
lock is  brought  to  the  slope,  the  right  footis  raised,  and  the  body 
gently  half  faced  to  the  right.  3.  The  hammer  is  thrown  open 
with  the  thumb  of  the  right  hand. 

Handle  C  ARTRiDGE....rwo  motiojis....  I .  The  right  band  opens 
the  cartridge  box,  seizes  the  cartridge,  shuts  the  case  of  the 
cartridge  box.     2.  Bite  the  top  of  the  cartridge  off. 

Prime. ...rwo  motions. ...\.  Pour  the  priming  into  the  pan. 
2.  Bring  the  two  latter  fingers  of  the  hand  before  the  hammer. 

Shut  pan..../71'9  motions. ...\.  With  the  cartridge  between  the 
two  fore  fingers  and  thumb,  the  pan  is  shut  by  the  third  and  fourth 
fingers  hooked.  2.  The  but  is  then  sulfercd  to  sink  gently 
through  the  left  hand  to  the  front,  so  that  when  it  reaches  the 
ground  the  but  shall  rest  on  the  ground  opposite  the  toe  of  the 
left  foot,  and  the  muzzle  sloped  so  as  to  stand  in  front  of  the 
right  breast  10  inches  from  the  body. 

LoAD....on<?  motion. ...ThQ  cartridge  is  then  emptied  into  the 
muzzle  and  the  empty  paper  pushed  in  with  the  finger. 

Draw  ramrod. ...rwo  motions,.. .\.  The  rammer  is  then  seiz- 
ed with  the  thumb  and  two  first  fingers  of  the  right  hand,  and 
drawn  up  about  a  foot,  with  the  right  hand  so  turned  that  the 
back  of  the  hand  shall  be  towards  the  face,  and  the  little  finger 
uppermost.  2.  The  rod  is  thus  drawn  out  and  the  hand  adroitly 
turned  so  that  the  broad  end  ©f  the  rammer  shall  be  placed  in 
the  muzzle  and  the  iittle  finger  undermost. 

Ram  down..,. f wo  motions... A.  When  firing  with  powder  the 
firelock  is  raised  perpendicular  and  a  slight  stroke  is  given  with 
the  heel  of  the  but  on  the  ground  to  level  the  powder.    2.  The 


100  WRST   PRINCIPLES   OF 

wadding  is  then  rammed  down  the  barrel  in  the  perpendicular 
position. 

Return  ramrod... ./Ti^o  motions>...l.  The  rammer  is  agai'n 
briskly  raised  eight  inches  or  a  foot  with  the  thumb  and  two  fin- 
gers, and  as  before  seized  with  the  reversed  hand,  drawn  out, 
and  turned.  2.  The  ramrod  is  returned  to  its  place  with  a 
pressure  of  the  palm  of  the  hand  ;  the  body  still  retaining  its 
half  faced  positions. 

Make  ready.... T'wo  motions. ...\,  The  firelock  is  now  brought 
up  to  the  same  position  as  on  the  word  recover  arms  ;  the  left 
hand  holding  the  firelock  perpendicular  opposite  the  left  eye  ; 
the  right  hand  holds  the  but  at  xXyq  grasp.  2.  The  firelock  is 
cocked  with  the  thumb  of  the  right  hand. 

Aim....  Two  viotions.,..  1 .  The  firelock  held  by  the  right  hand  is 
now  thrown  gently  into  a  hoiizontal  position  to  the  front,  and 
caught  on  the  palm  of  the  left  hand  which  is  easily  extended 
with  an  elbow  slightly  bent  to  the  front ;  the  sole  of  the  but  i^ 
placed  against  the  right  shoulder.  2.  The  right  foot  is  thrown 
back  about  six  inches,  and  the  left  eye  being  shut  the  right  eye 
glances  along  the  barrel. 

Fire.... T'wo  motions.,.A»  The  fore  finger  of  the  right  hand 
pulls  the  tricker  ;  and,  2.  as  soon  as  the  fire  is  made,  the  iirelock 
is  again  brought  to  the  fiort  or  priming  position  ;  or  the  word 
recover  arms  is  given  when  firing  has  ceased  ;  and  it  is  followed 
in  either  case  by 

[The  use  of  the  second  finger  at  the  tricker  is  recommended 
where  the  structure  of  the  hand  will  allow  it ;  the  fore  finger 
will  then  be  placed  before  the  guard  of  the  tricker  and  the 
middle  finger  within ;  this  method  prevents  any  jarring  of  the 
firelock  in  the  act  of  firing.] 

Half  CooK..,.Owe  motion,  ..If  this  be  done  as  preparatory  to 
firing,  it  is  done  in  the  priming  position,  sloped  to  the  front  by 
seizing  the  cock  with  the  fore  fingers  and  thumb  of  the  righ^ 
hand;  if  it  follows  the  recover^  then  it  is  followed  by  Shoulder 
arms  ;  but  if  the  firing  continues,  then  the  position  half  faced  to 
the  right  is  retained,  and  priming  and  loading  goes  on  in  that 
position.     When  the  firing  is  closed,  then 

Shoulder  arms. .../our  motions„..\.  The  left  hand,  which 
held  the  firelock  with  the  arm  a  little  bent  below,i8  now  carried 
as  low  down  as  possible  without  bending  the  body.  2,  The  fire- 
lock is  brought  up  to  the  stioulder  st)  that  the  left  hand  shall  wit'i 


>lIIiITARY  DISCIPLINE.  lOjL 

the  back  in  front  be  as  high  as  the  eyes.  3.  The  right  hand 
crosses  the  body  at  the  same  instant,  and  holds  the  but  at  the 
grasp  under  the  lock,  and  the  left  hand  quitting  its  hold,  is 
brought  down  open  and  flat,  and  tells  upon  the  but,  the  thurob 
to  the  front,  the  sole  of  the  but  lying  well  on  the  half  palm  and 
inner  joint  of  the  fingers  forming  a  hollow  in  the  hand,  upon 
which  it  rests  so  that  the  barrel  shall  be  perpendicular.  4.  The 
body  fronts  as  the  firelock  reaches  the  shoulder. 

Shut  Vk^... .Three  motions.., A.  Tlie  firelock  being  at  the 
shoulder,  the  right  hand  open  is  carried  across  the  breast. 
2.  The  pan  is  shut  with  the  palm.  3.  The  hand  brought  again 
to  the  right  side. 

Order  AB.Tsis...,Three  motions. ..A.  The  firelock  held  on  the 
left  hand  with  an  elbow  somewhat  bent,  not  so  much  as  to  place 
the  but  too  low,  is  now  lowered  the  whole  length  of  the  left 
arm.  2.  The  right  hand  seizes  the  firelock  aboVe  the  lock.  3. 
Brings  it  across  the  body,  to  the  right  side,  where  it  is  suffered 
to  slide  perpendicular  to  the  first  position  on  the  outside  of  the 
right  foQt. 

§  3.  MANUAL  OF  PARADE. 

The  soldier  reaches  parade  with  his  arms  trailed  or  sloped ; 
and  on  falling  in  he  comes  to  an  order  at  ease  without  word  of 
command.  On  the  beat  of  the  drum  as  a  preparative,  or  com- 
mand of  the  officer. ...ar/en/fon,  the  ranks  dress  to  the  right  or 
left  as  required.     The  officer  then  gives  the  precaution. 

Take  care  to   perform  the  manual  exercise  oe 

PARADE. 

1,  Fix  bayonets. 

In  this  motion,  the  firelock  is  seized  with  the  left  hand,  about 
the  upper  band,  and  without  moving  the  but  from  the  side  of  the 
right  foot,  is  thrown  easily  in  front  of  the  body  in  a  sloping  po- 
sition ;  the  right  hand  is  carried  at  the  same  moment  between 
the  firelock  and  the  body  to  the  bayonet,  which  is  seized  and 
fixed  briskly  on  the  firelock,  which  is  then  brought  into  the 
position  of  the  order. 

2.  Prime  and  load. 

This  comprehends  the  ten  first  motions'  in  the  first  drill  of* 
the  manual ;    here  it  is  executed  at  one  word  of  command,  the 
motions  are....l.  recover  from  the  order.. ..2.  open  pan. ...3.  han- 
dle cartridge... .4.  prime. ...5.  shut  pan. ...6.  load. ...7.  draw  rani:^ 
i'0d....8,  ram  cartridge.. t..9.  return  ramrod.. ..10.  make  ready. 


lOi!  iriRST   nilNCIPLES   01 

3.  Make  ready* 

4.  Take  aim, 

5.  Fire. 

6.  Half  cock. 

7.  Charge  hayoneL 

8.  Prime  and  load. 

9.  Present  arms. 

10.  Advance  arms. 

11.  Order  arms. 

12.  Handle  arms. 

13.  Un^o?  bayonet, 

14.  Trail  arms. 

15.  Shoulder  ai'ms. 

16.  Support  arms. 

17.  Carinjarms, 

18.  Secure  arms. 

19.  Shouldei*  arms. 

20.  Slope  arm^. 

The  manual  of  parade  consists  of  twenty  words  of  command, 
In  the  strict  order  of  duty  ia  action,  beside  the  firing  motions  of 
the  first  drill ;  the  eighth  is  the  precautionary  load  after  a  suc- 
cessful charge,  and  the  enemy  has  been  defeated ;  and  the  ad- 
vance a  motion  of  ease,  on  resuming  the  order  of  parade  after 
action ;  the  ninth,  the  salute  to  the  commanding  ofBcer  after 
victory  ;  and  the  trail  and  order,  the  movements  of  ease  and  rest 
after  action. 

Here  the  repeated  shouldering,  the  groundings  and  taking  ufi, 
are  all  omitted ;  and  no  motion  is  repeated  but  the  priming  and 
loading  motions,  which  cannot  be  too  often  or  dextrously  per- 
formed. 

The  manual  of  discipline  should  comprehend  all  these  mo- 
lions,  and  convey  plain  ideas  of  the  duties  to  be  performed.—. 
The  disciplinary  and  parade  manual  then  might  begin  with  the 
motions  indicative  of  this  principle,  as  fixing  bayonet,  and  prim- 
inp  and  loading. 

There  remains  but  to  explain  the  motions   of  the  manual  of 
parade  and  discipline  not  before  described. 
EXPLANATIONS. 

Fix  bayonet. ...This  operation  is  performed  in  two  modes,  at 
the  right  and  at  the  left  side.  At  the  right  side,  it  is  performed 
at  the  order,  by  drawing  the  bayonet  from  the  scabbard  and  fix- 
ing it  on  with  the  right  hand,  and  letting  the  firelock  remain  at 
the  order.  ^This  is  the  shortest  and  best  method ;  the  other 


MILITARY    DISCIPLINE.  4*03^ 

method  from  the  shoulder,  may  be  performed  from  the  shoul- 
der, in  five  motions,  in  this  manner  :  at  the  word  Jix  bayonets^ 
I.  the  right  hand  crosses  the  body  and  holds  the  grasp  ;  2.  the 
left  hand  is  carried  up  and  seizes  the  firelock  ;  3.  it  is  brought 
down  with  the  left  hand  to  the  left  side  ;  4.  the  bayonet  is  there 
fixed,  which  is  followed,  5.  by  the  shoulder. 

Charge  Bayonet.... 7 7yo  motions.,. A.  seize  the  firelock  at 
the  handle.  2.  Bring  it  lo  a  horizontal  position  in  front,  the  but 
on  a  level  with  the  hip,  the  right  hand  thrown  a  little  behind  the 
right  side  with  the  arm  bent,  and  the  left  hand  holding  the  fire- 
lock firmly  at  the  swell. 

Prime  and  load — (As  before.) 

Present  ARMs....i''owr  motions... .\.  Seize  the  firelock  at  the 
handle  with  the  right  hand,  bring  it  to  the  front  of  the  left  eye 
with  the  lock  in  front.  2.  Strike  the  firelock  with  the  palm  of  the 
left  hand  on  the  sling  or  ramrod,  the  cock  on  a  level  with  the 
nipple  of  the  left  breast.  3.  With  the  right  hand  sink  the  but  in 
front  of  the  left  thigh,  so  that  the  cock  may  be  on  a  range  with 
the  navel ;  the  barrel  in  front  of  the  left  eye,  the  lock  to  the  right 
side  and  left  hand  gently  grasping  the  firelock  at  the  swell.  4. 
The  right  foot  drawn  back  so  as  that  the  heel  of  ^e  left  foot 
shall  be  near  the  hollow  of  the  right. 

Advance  Arms.. ..is  the  position  in  which  Serjeants  carry  their 
arms,  in  battalion  ;  it  may  be  executed  from  the  shoulder,  the  or- 
der,  the  recover,  or  the  present;  it  consists  in  bringing  the  fire- 
lock to  the  right  side,  in  such  a  way  as  that  the  barrel  shall  rest 
against  the  right  shoulder ;  the  right  hand  first  and  second  fingers 
shall  be  placed  under  the  guard.. ..the  third  and  fourth  fingers 
behind  the  stock. ...and  the  thumb  on  the  top  of  the  guard — and 
the  firelock  thus  suspended  with  an  easy  bent  arm, 

Order  arms. ../owr  motions. ..A.  Carry  the  left  hand  across 
the^  breast,  and  seize  the  firelock  with  the  left  hand  firmly  in  its 
place.  2.  Carry  the  right  hand  up  in  front  of  the  firelock  and 
seize  it  with  the  right  hand  in  its  place.  3.  Withdraw  the  left 
hand  and  bring  it  handsomely  to  the  left  side.  4.  Bring  down 
the  firelock  with  the  but  briskly  to  the  ground  at  the  same 
instant  ;  fingers  in  front. 

Handle  ARMs....Tnis  word  of  command  may  be  used  to 
bring  the  rank  to  dress  when  the  n^en  are  at  ease,  when  they 
usually  hold  the  firelock  with  the  right  hand  about  the  muzzle  j 
then  it  consists  in  bringing  the  hand  down  to  the  front,  with  th« 


iO*  FIRST  PRHTCIPIES  0» 

thumb  behind  the  barrel... .in  the  case  of  the  hand  being  already- 
extended. down,  it  is  tised  as  a  preparative  for  fixing  bayonet,  or 
as  a  corrective  of  an  imperfect  execution  of  the  motion  with 
the  hand  down,. ..in  both  cases  it  consists  of  one  mation  only. 

Unfix  Bayonets. ...^owr  motiQjis,...\.  Throw  the  muzzle  of 
the  firelock  forward  from  the  order  with  the  right  hand.  2. 
Force  the  bayonet  by  striking  the  ball  of  the  right  thumb  against 
the  shoulder  and  unscrew  the  bayonet.  3.  Return  the  bayonet 
to  the  scabbard.  4.  Draw  back  the  firelock  to  the  position  of 
the  order  with  the  hand  in  front  of  the  piece  below.  5.  Carry 
the  left  hand  to  the  left  side. 

This  command  may  be  executed  from  the  shoulder  in  four 
■motions,  1.  Carry  the  right  hand  under  the  lock  to  the  band  of 
the  firelock.  2.  Carry  the  left  hand  up  so  as  to  hold  the  fire- 
lock easily.  3;  Bring  the  firelock  down  to  the  left  side,  let  the 
muzzle  rest  against  the  left  arm.  4.  Unfix  the  bayonet  and  re- 
turn it  to  the  scabbard.  In  this  case  it  may  be  followed  by 
shoulder  or  the  recover,  and  Jiring  motions. 

TRArL  Arms....^wo  7norzow 5.... May  be  executed  from  the  order, 
from  the  shoulder,  or  the  advance  :  It  consists,  1.  In  seizing  the 
firelock  with  the  right  hand,  sufficiently  low  down  on  the  swell. 

2.  Carry  it  down  to  the  right  side,  so  that  the  firelock  shall  slope 
about  eight  inches  in  front  of  the  body  by  the  right  side,  and  the 
buts  of  the  rank  shall  dress  behind,  and  the  muzzles  dress  in  front. 

Shoulder  arms. ....(As  before.) 

Support  \Kms....tTJo  motions. ...\s  a  motion  executed  from 
the  shoulder,  and  is  performed  by,  1.  Throwing  the  right  hand 
across  the  body,  and  seizing  the  firelock  by  the  handle.  2. 
Throwing  the  left  hand  over  the  right  arm,  so  that  the  cock  of 
the  firelock  shall  rest  on  the  left  arm. 

Carry  arms.. ..rwo  motions.., .Is  simply,  1.  Carrying  the  left 
hand  to  the  but,  and  making  it  tell,  and  holding  the  firelock  at 
the  shoulder.  2.  The  right  hand  at  the  same  moment  resum-» 
ingits  place  by  the  right  side. 

Secure  kvlus... .three  motions. ..,Hh\s  is  a  motion  to  secure 
lUe  arms  against  rain  or  weather ;  it  is  performed  from  the 
shoulder.  1.  Carry  the  right  hand  across  the  body  to  hold  the 
firelock.     2.  The  left  hand  is  thrown  up  in  front  of  the  barrel. 

3.  The  muzzle  of  the  firelock  is  brought  on  the  left  hand  down 
to  the  front,  sloped  towards  the  ground,  and  within  from  four  to 
six  inches ;  the  lock  comes  under  the  left  arm ;  the  toe  of  the 
but  is  uppermost,  and  behind  the  left  arm. 


MILITARY    DI3CIPLINE.  105 

Slope  ARUS..„o?2e  /notion., ..Is  performed  from  the  shoulder, 
and  consists  in  throwing  the  firelock  into  a  gent'e  slope  on  the 
shoulder,  so  that  the  but  shall  advance  three  or  four  inches  in  front. 

The  secure  and  the  trail. ,..?sq  never  performed  with  fixed 
bayooets. 

§  4.  OF  THE  FIRE. 

Of  all  the  branches  of  the  military  art,  none  has  undergone  a 
greater  variety  of  changes,  none  has  been  so  long  ill  digested 
and  complicated,  as  the  mode  of  fire.  It  has  been  a  matter  of 
dispute  among  the  most  distinguished  officers  for  a  century  ; 
each  endeavoring  to  bring  it  to  perfection  in  his  own  way  ;  by 
charging  carefully. ...by  charging  with  given  proportions  of 
powder.. ..by  ramming  down. ...by  dispensing  with  the  ramrod 
and  depending  upon  tRe  weight  of  the  bull  and  the  shock  of  the 
but  against  the  ground  ;  then  came  the  principles  of  extension, 
or  of  giving  a  long  line  of  fire. ...then  the  order  of  formation  in 
two,  three,  four  ranks,  one  or  two  of  which  kneeling... .then  the 
volley  firing  ;  firing  by  ranks,  by  sub-divisions  and  platoons  ;  the- 
kneeling  of  front  ranks ;  and  at  last,  the  execution  of  the  greatest 
number  of  discharges  of  the  firecock  in  a  minute,  as  Guibcrt 
very  truly  says,  only  encreasing  the  noise,  smoke,  and  confusion 
of  action,  without  any  other  efii'ect. 

P'or  a  long  time  it  was  not  perceived,  that  in  order  to  render 
fire  effective,  the  exercise  of  loading  and  firing  should  be  plain 
and  unincumbered  by  useless  motions  ;  that  loading  carefully 
was  essential  to  the  regular  effect ;  and  that  excessive  hurry,  or 
making  a  greater  or  lesser  number  of  explosions,  was  not  the 
object,  but  to  produce  elTect  by  the  shot.  In  time  it  came  to 
be  discovered,  that  in  act  on  not  one  shot  out  of  100  hit  an  ex- 
tended object  as  high  as  the  head  of  a  horse,  at  three  hundred 
feet  distance :  and  then  distance  became  a  consideration  ;  the 
cool,  deliberate  and  effective  fire  of  the  militia  corps  in  the  war 
of  our  revolution^  tended  to  introduce  into  European  warfare  con- 
siderations on  the  inefficacy  of  the  fire,  as  then  practised  in  their 
armies.  In  real  service  it  is  impossible,  after  the  first  fire,  to 
keep  up  a  regular  volley,  or  even  a  platoon  fire,  modern  tactics 
has  therefore  exploded  the  old  theorijLiS,  and  reserved  the  fire  of 
divisions,  or  platoons,  only  for  special  circumstances,  instead  of 
being  the  general  regulation  ;  the  practice  now  in  all  armies  is 
the  fire  deliberate  and  composed  as  each  man  loads. 

In  like  manner  it  was  found,  that  in  the  tumult  of  action  the 
rear  of  the  three  rank.?  killed  more  men  of  tjieir  own  front  rank 


±06  JIRST   PRINCIPLES    OF 

than  fell  by  the  balls  of  the  enemy  ;  the  rear  rank  now  loads  its 
firelocks  for  the  centre  rank ;  and  the  centre  rank  men  load  their 
own  and  fire  their  own  firelocks,  as  well  as  those  of  the  rear  rank, 
in  the  following  manner  :  the  order  of  formation  being  files 
of  three  in  depth  ;  the  front  rank  man  loads  and  fires  his  own 
piece :  the  centre  rank  man  fires  his  own  piece,  brings  it 
down  in  his  left  hand,  and  presents  it  to  the  left  hand  of 
the  rear  rank  man  ;  the  rear  rank  man  hands  his  own  load- 
ed piece  with  his  right  hand  into  the  right  hand  of  the  centre 
rank  man  who  fires  it,  and  loads  the  rear  rank  man*s  piece  and 
fires  it ;  and  then  returns  it  and  receives  and  fires  his  own,  loads 
and  fires  it,  and  returns  it.  Thus  the  centre  rank  man  loads 
only  one  of  every  two  shots  he  fires;  the  rear  rank  man  does 
nothing  but  load. 

Plate  10,  presents  to  the  eye  these  dispositions  :  the  first  or 
three  upper  figures  represent  a  file  of  three  deep,  the  front  and 
centre  rank  men  firing,  the  rear  rank  man  priming.  The  second 
group  represents  the  same  file  of  three,  the  front  rank  firing, 
the  centre  rank  priming  ^fter  his  first  fire,  and  the  rear  rank 
loading  ;  the  third  group  represents  the  front  rank  firing,  the 
second  rank  faced  about  delivering  the  firelock  he  had  fired  to 
the  rear  rank  man,  who  presents  his  firelock,  loaded,  to  the 
centre  rank  man. 

Experience  elso  taught  that  in  order  to  know  the  use  of  the 
firelock,  it  was  necessary  to  examine  how  the  shot  acts,  in  order 
to  obtain  definite  ideas. 

First,  on  the  line  of  levels  that  is  to  say,  the  straight  line,  from 
the  eye  to  the  object  at  which  the  ball  is  directed. 

Secondly,  the  line  ofjire^  a  straight  line,  which  reprelsents  the 
axis  of  the  musket. 

Thirdly,  the  line  of  trajection  described  by  the  ball,  which  is 
projected  by  the  powder  from  the  calibre  of  the  piece  to  the  spot 
it  is  intended  to  strike. 

The  lineoflevcl^  and  the  line  ofyfr^,  are  ijy  no  means  parallel, 
for  according  to  the  difierent  weight  of  metal  which  the  barrel 
has  at  its  breaching,  and  at  its  muzzle,  they  describe  an  angle 
more  or  less  acute  beyond  the  tube ;  the  eye  seeks  its  aim 
along  the  exterior  of  the  barrel,  while  the  ball  put  in  motion  is 
impelled  from  the  interior  part  of  the  barrel,  to  the  length  ot 
the  line  of  fire  ;  but  the  line  of  level  and  tJie  line  of  fire  become 
secant  at  certain  distance,  or  in  other  words  cross  each  other 


MILITARY  DiSCIPLINli.  107 

On  the  delivery  of  the  ball  from  the  cylinder,  its  path  be- 
gins to  trace  a  curve  line  ascending,  which  is  begun  by  the 
body  in  raotion,  at  a  small  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  bar- 
rel, and  immediately  cuts  the  line  of  level,  passing  it  upward 
at  a  certain  distance  ;  from  thence  at  a  given  distance  it  is 
drawn  to  the  earth  by  gravitation,  and  inclines  to  the  level 
line,  cuts  it  again,  and  finishes  its  parabolic  course  to  the  end 
of  its  fall  ;  it  is  this  second  point  of  intersection  which  is 
called  the  fioint  blanc  ;  and  which  in  proportion  to  the  incli- 
nation of  the  angle  which  is  formed  by  the  line  of  level  and 
the  path  of  the  ball,  is  more  or  less  distinct  from  the  extremi- 
ty of  the  barrel,  and  thus  in  the  same  manner  they  act  in  pro- 
portion to  the  force  which  impels  the  ball,  from  its  own  vol- 
ume, from  that  of  its  density,  from  the  resistance  of  the  air 
in  the  space  which  it  traverses,  and  the  length  of  the  calibre, 
proportioned  according  to  the  diameter. 

The  fioint  blanc  or  the  ivhite  spot,  is  so  named  from  the  French 
who  painted  their  targets  black,  and  the  central  spot  ivhite. 

What  is  here  said  relates  to  a  common  property  of  all  fipe 
arms  ;  and  all  round  shot  from  a  smooth  calibre  proceed  in 
this  curvilinear  course.  The  horizontal  shot  of  a  musket 
may  be  computed  at  180  toises,  or  1080  feet,  yet  where  the 
lire  of  infantry  can  have  any  great  effect,  it  is  seldom  more 
than  at  80  toises,  160  yards,  or  480  feet ;  that  is  of  infantry 
arranged  in  battle,  and  in  the  tumult  of  an  action.  Beyond 
this  distance  the  shot  is  uncertain,  for  the  soldier  in  his  hurry 
and  confusien  loads  hastily,  levels  worse,  trusts  to  chance  in 
his  fire,  and  is  usually  devoid  of  that  composure  which  could 
insure  execution. 

The  soldier  having,  by  the  manual  exercise,  acquired  a  per. 
feet  habit  in  his  loading  and  in  his  fire,  at  first  exercised  alone, 
then  in  file,  afterwards  in  the  front,  centre  and  rear  of  the 
file,  in  several  files  by  division,  and  in  company,  he  should 
next  be  conducted  by  practice  through  the  same  gradations 
to  fire  with  ball  at  a  target,  «pon  the  principle  of  the  course 
of  the  ball ;  and  to  know,  that  the  ai7n  must  be  taken  high  or 
low  according  to  the  distance  of  the  object  fired  at. 

Particular  attention  to  the  quality  and  condition  of  the  arms, 
is  an  essential  part  of  military  duty  ;  the  French  consider  it 
ecoBomical  to  provide  one  serviceable  firelock  instead  of  five 
or  ten  that  will  not  stand  a  day's  service. 


APPENDIX. 


Although  the  immediate  (kities  of  officers  in  battalion  belong  rather  to  jv 
5-ystem  more  than  elementary,  the  concise  enumeration  of  the  duties  of  eveiy 
officer  in  a  regiment,  cannot  be  useless  where  neither  the  American  Militaiy 
l.ibrary  nor  Military  Dictionary  arc  at  Jiand. 


DUTIES    OF    OFFICERS    OF    BATTALION* 
THE  COLONEL. 

THE  colftneJ  of  a  regiment  should  he  minutely  acquainted  with  eveiv 
particular  of  the  discipline,  subsistence,  quarters,  arms,  clothing,  and  the 
character  of  every  officer  and  private,  in  his  regiment.  He  should  be  par- 
ticularly attentive  to  the  goodness  of  their  provisions^  the  cleanness  of  their 
persons,  their  quarters,  and  their  place  of  rest;  and  he  is  bound  to  require 
the  most  minute  attention  to  every  particular  on  tht  part  of  the  officers,  and 
(hat  they  report  to  him  promptly  every  neglect  of  duty,  every  abuse  of 
Subordination,  or  any  injury  done  to  any  and  every  man,  whether  in  person, 
or  in  his  property. 

The  colonel  should  be  competent  to  mancenvre  his  regiment,  and  take  the 
parade,  and  perform  all  the  functions  of  connmnnd  in  person.  He  is  bound  to 
do  it  b}'  duty,  and  his  neglect  would  be  a  dangerous  example,  which  might  be 
always  pleaded  by  a  subaltern  for  any  omission  of  duty  on  his  part.  The 
king  of  Prussia,  who  drilled  his  own  battalions  in  the  most  minute  and 
laboriotis  manner,  was  rewarded  by  numei'ous  victories  fbr  his  practical  labor 
and  experience  :  he  thus  speaks  of  the  duty  of  officers  :  "  The  affection  and 
**  reciprocal  confidence  which  is  obtained  by  the  officer  M'ho  performs  his 
*•  duty  diligently,  rewards  lus  labor.  It  is  not  by  overlooking  their  faults, 
*♦  or  indulging  soldiers  in  negligence,  or  bad  discipline,  their  confidence  is 
*'  gained.  The  soldiers  soon  discover  limited  knowlege,  incapacity,  and  a 
**  man  in  whom  they  could  not  cbnfide  in  action;  in  him  who  acts  in  such  a 
**  manner.  He  who  endeavors  to  convince  the  men  that  his  purpose  is  to 
**  enlarge  their  knowlege,  to  make  them  worthy  of  distinction,  to  feel  that 
"  their  station  is  a  dignified  and  howorable  ong,  and  acts  as  if  he  himself 
"  thinks  so,  will  obtain  their  atfection  and  their  confidence  ;  and  he  will  miss 
■**  his  end  with  only  a  veiy  few,  wliich  are  to  be  found  in  all  situations  un- 
*' worthy  of  any  profession." 

On  the  parade  he  attends  t»>  no  concerns  b)it  his  duty,  and  never  suffers 
his  men  to  stand  in  idleness,  \n  order  to  listen  to  the  prattle  of  those  chat- 
terers and  flatterers,  any  more  than  those  quarrelsome  aud  turbulent  me«, 
which  will  always  be  found  scattcrad  through  military  establishments. 

In  the  exercise  of  his  single  regiment,  his  station  is  in  front  of  the  regiment* 
distance  half  the  length  of  his  reginkcnt. 

When  there  is  more  than  one  regiment,  he  is  either  on  thfe  right  in  frojit, 
07  OD  its  retu*  if  iu  Ime,  or  at  its  head  if  m  column. 


APPENDIX.  iOi> 

THE  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. 

As  his  title  declares,  he  is  the  second  in  command  or  substitute  of  the  colo- 
v.t\  vhen  the  former  is  absent,  and  is  bound  to  be  equally  minutely  acquainted 
with  the  concerns  of  the  regiment  as  his  SHperior  officer;  if  a  regiment  has 
more  than  one  lieuteDant-colonel,  they  will  have  separate  battalions ;  kut  they 
must  be  always  qualified  and  prepared  to  perform  the  same  duties  tsj  the  co- 
lonel. The  lieutenant.eolonel  may  be  called  upon  to  exercise  the  tlpgiment 
or  battalion  by  the  colonel,  and  should  never  be  unprepared  nor  liken  by 
surprize. 

THE  MAJOR. 

The  major  is  the  most  important  officer  in  a  regiment  ;  and  upon  his  skill, 
activity,  and  assiduity,  will  its  di8cii)line  and  internal  economy  principally 
depend ;  he  is  to  the  colonel  what  the  chief  of  the  staff  is  to  the  commander  ia 
chief;  he  is  to  the  regiment  wl\at  the  adjutant-general  and  the  quarter-mas* 
ter-general  and  the  comm.ssary-gcneral  are  to  an  army.  He  must  be  a  mas- 
ter of  military  discipline,  he  must  control  and  examine  every  department 
appertaining  to  the  regiment,  he  must  he  inflexibly  exa«t  and  particular  in 
enforcing  the  performance  of  their  duties  by  the  platoon  officers  and  subal- 
terns; aud  through  him  the  adjutant  superintends  the  e:(act  performance  of 
duties  by  the  non-commissioned  officers;  he  must  possess  a  register  of  returns  on 
every  detail  of  duty — parades — drills— guards — picket  guards — sick — fune- 
rals— the  roster  of  service  of  platoon  officers,  and  the  roster  >f  rank  and  file — 
the  police  and  judicial  duties,  all  come  to,  and  pass  througlj  him.  He  is  the 
centre  of  communication  bo*h  for  orders  to  be  issued  and  repa-ts  to  be  received. 
He  must  exercise  and  manoeuvre  the  regiment  h;mself,  and  i:  is  his  special  care 
and  obligatory  on  him  that  the  officers  be  not  ignorant  off  thpir  duty— nor  suf- 
fered to  evade  the  performsmce  of  it.  He  is  bound  to  se^  that  the  drills  be 
directed  by  officers.  \ 

He  has  to  see  to  the  quality  of  provisions,  and  to  the  condition  and  manage^ 
ment  of  the  hospitals,  that  the  sick  are  not  neglected,  and  thai  the  surgeons  per- 
form their  duty  personally.  j 

I{e  has  to  see  that  the  arms  are  good — to  inspect  them  minutely — to  examine  « 
the  state  of  the  ammunition  and  necessaries  of  eveiy  kind  in  cjrap,  or  quarters. 
To  him  the  regimental  quarter-masters  apply,  and  from  hioj  they  receive  the 
orders  of  the  colonel,  of  which  he  keeps  an  exact  registi^. 

In  evolutions  of  the  line  he  has  charge  of  the  right,  and  maiks  the  alignment, 
as  the  adjutant  does  on  the  left.  In  cohiran  his  post  is  in  the  ipav  of  the  second 
battalion.  | 

When  there  are  two  majors,  they  may  diride  the  duties,  eajh  a  battalion  ;  or 
they  execute  it  in  rotation,  month  about.  *l 

The  regimental  books  are  under  the  immediate  care  of  the  /najor — and  he  « 
the  executorof  every  officer  who  dies  in  the  service,  and  is  boimd  to  take  chst.rgQ 
of  his  effects.  All  these  duties  are,  however,  conducted  und^r  the  authority  of 
the  colonel  or  commanding  officer. 

THE  CAPTAIN. 

The  captain  is  to  the  company  what  the  colonel  is  to  the  regiment ;  he  keeps 
a  company  book,  in  which  a  daily  entry  is  made  «f  evety  transaction  appertain- 
ing to  the  aoropany— men  joined  or  men  removed«-clottiiDg  receiftdorisiaed*- 


110  APPiiNDIX> 

pay  received,  due,  or  issued — arras — provisions— forage— sf ores  of  every  kind 
— medicine — sick — convalescent,  and  every  incident  concerning  every  person 
in  the  company.  He  draws  pay  and  issaes  it,  taking  duplicate  receipts — he 
should T>e  a  father,  friend,  and  protector  to  his  men:  duty  should  be  infiexibly 
enforced ;  but  kindness  and  care,  in  promoting  the  proper  grati&cationi  of  his 
soldiers,  should  be  his  eonstant  study. 

The  driils  should  be  superintended  l)y  him — and  fatigue  parties  conducted  un- 
der  his  Jirection  :  he  is  bound  to  see  that  the  subalterns  understand  and  perform 
their  duty;  and  he  should  keep  a  strict  register  of  their  conduct  on  duty,  an<? 
their  private  and  public  deportment— their  qualifications — and  their  neglect  or 
attention  to  their  profession. 

He  should  make  out  all  the  returns  of  his  company  himself;  he  should  make 
his  subalterns  transcribe  them,  la  order  that  they  may  be  qualiGed  in  his  absence 
to  perform  the  company  duties. 

In  exercise  the  captain  is  always  on  the  right,  or  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pany. 

In  open  order  of  battalion,  his  place  is  four  paces  In  front  of  the  second  file  of 
the  front  rank ;  his  place  in  the  front  rank  is  filled  by  the  guide  or  covering 
Serjeant  from  the  risht  of  the  rear  rank. 

In  close  order  of  Jattalion,  his  place  is  on  the  right  of  the  front  rank. 

In  action,  his  place  is  on  the  right  of  his  company  in  line  and  eolumn ;  all  bat- 
talion officers  shouid  carry  a  light  musquetoon  of  calibre  for  10  or  12  pistol  balls  ; 
or  a  case  of  good  pstols  in  their  sashes ;  with  eight  or  ten  buck  shot. 

THE  ADJUTANT. 

This  officer  has  a  variety  of  active  and  important  duties,  and  upon  him,  through 
the  major,  »ll  the  (etaiis  of  the  regiment  are  conducted.  He  puts  the  Serjeant 
major  in  motion,  and  through  him  the  Serjeants  and  corporals;  heha«  the  charge 
of  all  the  details  whith  every  company  furnishes  for  each  branch  of  duty — 
guards — hospitals— fatigues — driili— courts  of  enquiry — courts  martial — the  ap« 
prehension  and  custody  of  deserters — the  correspondence  and  issuing  of  orders 
to  the  eommanders  of  companies  through  the  major — he  is  specially  bound  to  see 
'the  subaltern  officers  drilled  and  perfected  for  eommand,  and  to  exercise  them 
himself,  and  direct  them  m  the  exercise  of  their  duty — he  has  particular  charge 
of  the  music  and  nusicians ;  and  the  serjeant  major,  drum  major,  and  quarter- 
master Serjeants,  receive  their  orders  at  stated  hours  from  him :  and  the  orderly 
Serjeants  of  companies  attecd  at  his  quarters  to  receive  and  transcribe  all  ocders 
for  their  several  companies.  Though  his  duties  extend  to  the  communication  of 
orders  to  the  quaiter-master's  department,  when  the  order  is  issued,  the  duty  of 
seeing  it  fulfilled,  devolves  on  the  company  officers ;  but  he  is  bound  to  report 
theirneglect,  and  to  receive  complaints,  if  any  should  be  made  by  non-commis. 
sioned  officers  or  p-ivates  of  the  company,  against  the  commissioned  or  non-com< 
missioned  officeri.  He  has  to  make  out  the  roster  for  eourts  martial ;  to  swear 
the  members,  and  in  garrison  courts  martial,  or  drum  head  courts  martial,  he 
sdministers  (heoati,  and  acts  as  judge  advocate. 

He  sees  all  guards  which  are  not  commanded  by  an  officer  of  higher  grade 
than  a  captain,  parided  ;  and  delivers  them  a  parole,  and  order  of  the  day. 

He  aids  the  quarter  master  in  preparations  for  march,  and  encampmeBt — 
by  ffurotAiDg  returasofefftatiTe— tick— convalescent,  8(e. 


'1F^ 


APPENDIX.  Ill 

The  adjutant  must  keep  a  description  list  of  every  ofHcer  and  suldier  in  tire 
regiment — aecording  to  the  established  form. 

The  adjutant  receives  the  sword  of  an  officer  put  under  arrest— and  if  t.n 
officer  is  sentenced  to  dishonor,  he  breaks  the  sword  over  his  head,  cuts  the  sash, 
and  throws  it  in  his  face. 

He  directs  the  drumming  out  of  camp  or  garrison,  vagabonds,  or  persons 
whom  it  is  deemed  disgraceful  to  permit  to  wear  the  uniform  of  a  soldier.  The 
serjeant-major  sees  it  executed. 

SUBALTERNS. 

The  first  lieutenant  is  to  the  captain  what  the  lieutenant-colonel  and  major 
are  to  the  colonel.  He  must  always  consider  himself  bound  to  see  the  duties 
of  the  company  performed  in  obedience  to  the  eaptain,  and  accord! -ij  to  the 
principles  of  discipline  ;  he  should  aim  to  excel,  as  he  aspires  to  a  company,  and 
must  take  charge  of  it  in  the  absence  of  the  captain.  lie  should  practise  in  the 
dnlls  constantly,  to  ac*juire  the  habit  of  commnnd,  and  to  be  prepared  by  ever- 
cise,  and  with  presence  of  mind,  to  correct  errors  in  raanoeuvres,  which  he  can 
never  do  unless  he  has  bad  practical  experience  ;  and  the  drill  is  the  best  of  all 
schools  to  acquire  the  habit  of  command.  He  should  in  turn  with  the  other  sub- 
alterns of  the  company,  take  a  concern  in  the  comfort  anol  gratification  of  his  men 
— in  care  of  the  sick  and  convalescent — in  protecting  them  frem  injustice  in  their 
persons — clothing — provisions — pay — or  any  other  raatter—hc  should  examine 
and  know  the  use  and  power  of  arms — he  should  be  a  good  swordsman,  and  be 
capable  of  exercising  with  the  sabve  and  spadroon — he  sho;;ld  know  the  propor- 
tion of  powder  required  to  carry  any  given  weight  of  ball— the  range  of  the  shot 
— the  difference  and  effects  of  the  csilibre — and  he  should  be  an  expert  marks- 
man himself,  so  as  to  be  able  to  instruct  by  precept  and  example  in  target  prac- 
tice. 

In  the  absence  of  the  captain,  he  performs  all  the  funcdons  of  (he  captain. 

In  the  exercise  «;f  the  battalion,  his  place  in  close  order  may  be  either  on  the 
Ifftof  the  company,  or  on  the  right  of  the  half  company,  if  it  be  divided.  The 
second  lieutenant  sometimes  takes  those  places,  and  hu  place  is  then  in  the  su- 
pernumerary rank,  four  paces  in  the  rear  of  the  company. 

In  open  order,  his  place  is  four  paces  in  front  of  the  second  file  from  the  kft 
«.)f  the  front  rank,  dressing  by  the  captain  on  the  right. 

In  column,  if  the  column  be  foriaed  ot  an  entire  company  in  front,  he  is  in  the 
supernumerary  rank,  at  the  open  distance,  if  in  open  order  ;  if  at  close  order, 
at  two  paces. 

In  eehellons  tl'.e  subalterns  all  attend  (o  the  due  regulation  of  distance  and 
movement. 

The  second  lieutenant  and  ensign  have  the  same  obligations  «n^  duties  to  fulGF, 
as  the  first  lieutenant. 

In  battalion  at  close  order,  they  are  in  the  supernumerary  rank ;  in  open 
order  in  the  front,  at  equal  distance  from  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant ;  the 
second  lieutenant  on  the  right  of  the  two.  In  column  the  same  as  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

THE  SERJEANT  MAJOK. 
This  is  a  Tery  useful  and   indispenslble  officer — it  would  be  desirable,  and 
would  conduce  to  the  perfectien  of  discipline,  if  there  were  otie  to  every  com.. 


XX2 


APPENDIX. 


-m 


pany.  The  duties  are  very  heavy  on  a  single  Serjeant  major  to  a  battalion,  and 
it  is  not  easy  to  find  men  every  way  qualified.  He  is  to  the  Serjeants  and  corpo- 
rals, what  the  major  is  to  the  platoon  officeri.  He  has  charge  of  the  details  of 
Serjeants,  corporals,  privates,  and  musicians  for  every  service,  guards,  drills,  fa- 
tigues, &c.  and  is  an  indispensible  aid  to  the  adjutant. 

He  should  be  a  complete  master  of  all  the  exerecises  of  the  battalion  from  the 
first  drill  to  the  movements  in  line  of  battle.  A  serjeant  major  who  feels  a  pride 
m  his  station,  and  whose  conduct  is  exemplary >  may  expect  with  propriety, mili- 
tary promotion. 

SERJEANTS. 

The  non-commissioned  ofHeers  should  be  selected  from  among  the  most  or- 
derly and  best  qualified  men — upon  them  will  depend  very  much  the  order  and 
good  conduct  of  the  company.  They  should  each  have  a  squad  compdsed  Of  aa 
equal  distribution  ot  the  men,  who  should  form  messes,  over  which  the  Serjeants 
and  corporals  should  preside  and  be  responsible  for  the  good  and  orderly  conduct 
of  the  mess,  the  dressing  of  provisions,  the  cleaning  of  their  persoss,  arms,  quar- 
ters, and  clothing. 

The  Serjeants  in  rotation  should  see  the  parties  daily  turn  out  far  guards— in- 
spect them  and  their  arms — that  their  cbthing  be  clean — arms  in  good  order — 
ilints  good  and  well  fitted — ammunition  suiKicient  and  in  good  condition. 

The  Serjeants  make  a  morning  report,  one  copy  for  the  captain,  the  other  for 
the  Serjeant  major,  who  delivers  them  to  the  former. 

The  Serjeants  make  weekly  reports  of  the  company,  men  and  arms — reports 
are  delivered  to  the  serjeant  major  on  a  stated  hour  of  the  day  every  week ;  but 
they  must  be  ready  to  make  report  at  any  hour  required,  and  the  corporals  aid 
the  Serjeants  in  this  duty. 

At  roll  call  they  should  report  all  who  were  absent — when  upon  guard  ar- 
range the  sentinels,  and  never  be  absent  from  the  he^d  quarters  of  the  guard. 

The  Serjeants  perform  orderly  duty,  once  a  week  in  rotation,  of  which  the  ser- 
jeant major  keeps  a  roster ;  the  duty  of  the  orderly  serjeant  is  to  attend  upon  and 
execute  such  orders  as  the  officer  to  whom  he  is  attached  shall  order.    The  ser 
eants  act  as  guides  and  pivots  in  the  evolutions  of  battalions. 

CORPORALS. 

These  are  in  fact  deputy  sei'jeants — they  have  the  charge  of  squads  in  quarters 
— there  is  an  orderly  corporal  in  qusftets  always  dressed,  and  whose  duty  it  is 
to  execute  such  orders  as  the  onlerly  serjeant  is  required  to  have  executed.  The 
corporals  keep  each  a  roll  of  the  company,  and  they  warn  the  men  for  duly. 
I'hey  teach  the  recruits  the  manual  exercise,  instruct  them  in  cleaning  arms  and 
accoutrements,  and  see  that  they  perform  tliis  duty  each  for  himself— they  take 
iheir  share  of  duties  io  guards,  fatigues,  the  care  of  ammunition  and  provisionf 
*nd  storage. 

The  Serjeants  and  corporals  call  the  rolls  at  taptoo  time — and  are  the  first  on 
daily  parade,  and  are  exemplary  in  tlie  neatness  of  their  persons  and  ijieir  so- 
briety and  good  demeanor.  v 

The  corporals  plant  the  aentioels,  the  elder  corporal  has  the  choice  of  the  route, 
after  an  equal  distribution. 

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